yes.. it seems as though the French cycle industry , or what little remians of it, is attempting to make a come-back, largely by reviving some of those good old names from its glorious past.
The other week I noticed that Cycles France Loire are putting more bikes into the Auchan supermarkets of France bearing the Mercier name, alongside those already proclaiming "Poulidor , while Champion shops are using the illustrious LEJEUNE brand. - not seen around for some while since some Arabs bought the company in the late 80s/early 90s and made a hash of it. Sometime in the interim the original owner tried a relaunch of the brand but without much success.
Meanwhile a close friend of mine who, in the early 80s adopted the brands Geliano, Rozelli, and Canelli to promote the frames his company hand-produced in the Loire valley, not far from Blois, has finally reverted to his French origins by using his own, and original brand name of J-M DURET on about 50% of his production. I have heard rumours, but nothing more, that the HELYETT brand might be reintroduced.
Even the Jacques ANQUETIL brand was about to be relaunched a few years ago, in the ownership of the master time-trialist's daughter, with none other than that master-craftsman and perfectionist welder of alloy frames, Andre Sabliere, in charge of production. Alas, that project was short-lived.
Anyone laying bets on the return of Alcyon, Automoto, Dilecta .?
Norris Lockley... wishing he could find a 1946 Simplex rod front "clanger" to complete his Dilecta..