It's raining like November over here in the north of the UK so I'm browsing on Ebay.. and to good effect I think.
That newly-arrived French seller, RH Classics, has just posted quite an array of very impressive 40/50s frames and bikes. Starting prices are quite high.. or are they for what's on offer?
BARRA/GARIN lady's alloy framed bike - Item 3866469056 HUGONNIER/ROUTENS incomplete lady's bike - Item 3686469482 HANDBUILT CAMPAGNOLO gents road frame - Item 3686466681 BARRA gent's alloy touring frame - 3686465909 plus a French postman's "porteur" bike
These are part of French framebuilding history just as much if not more than Herse and Singer.. certainly BARRA was one of the very early builders working with aluminium alloy tubing.
The Handbuilt Campagnolo road frame is a bit of a puzzler. The lugs look very mich like long point Prugnat with cut-outs, but the frame has a hand-made bench-fabricated front mech brazed on. The frame looks like a Follis, even Herse used those lugs as did Singer. The give-away must be the Olympic-style rings engraved into the fork-crown. I've seen this before and think it might be GEMINI, a very highly rated builder from the eastern suburbs of Paris, but I will check it out..
While on French stuff.. on French Ebay there's a Manufrance " Raymond Poulidor" bike fully equipped with what looks like typically French accessories. The frame is Super Vitus.. so it will be very light.and is about 60cms at a guess. The bike will represent the very pinnacle of Manufrance's output and should be an excellent buy.. staring at 10.50 euros! The seller will not dispatch it though.... I shall be in France not far from the seller next week, but without a lap-top I shall be out of the bidding
Norris Lockley .. just feel like lighting up a "Gaulloise" after that burst of Francophile frenzy.. Settle, Royaume Uni