Any collector of French bikes from the 50s and 60s could well become confused by the similarity of certain models and brands of handlebar stems, such as ATAX, PHILIPPE and PIVO, much in the same way as it is possible to think that hubs bearing the names NORMANDY, MAILLARD, EXCELTO, ALPIN, PELISSIER and certain othersare all made in the same factory. Neither of these examples is all that it seems.
ATAX is/was a company based at Oullins in the industrial suburbs of Lyon in southern France. It produced stems and bars under the names ATAX and PHILIPPE, the letter being the more up-market brand. Some PHILIPPE models of stems and bars were also produced for the SPIDEL marque..the collaboration of Maillard, Simplex, Stronglight and ATAX originating in the 70s.
PIVO, was the brand name of the manufacturer Ets Alles that was based at Montreuil in the eastern suburbs of Paris. Some PIVO and ATAX appeared to be identical..as did a certain MILREMO stem. Who made the MILREMO stem..I think it was ATAX ?
There were other French manufacturers of bars and stems such as:
- AVA, based in an industrial town just north of Paris - BELLERI who made stems and bars with the name but also with just "BF". Usually the "Belleri brand bars were more up-market than the "BF". Belleri also made a bold attempt in the early 90s to introduce a "SSC" type set of bars and stem called "Bar-Line". These had beautiful lines and finish, a match for anything comming out of Italy or Japan, but by this time they had no chance of dethroning Cinelli, TTT, SR and the rest. Belleri are still in business, based in modern facories at Sorbiers just outside St Etienne; I have "Bar-Line" on my best machine. -CHALAYE, this too was a St.Etienne-based company but it never really made any impact on the lightweight top-end market..perhaps best known for its curved steel cranks; -CTA..this company produced a very wide range of alloy and steel bars, some of which were not unattractive, but the company semed to be content with supplying large quantities of bottom to mid-range products to the large French bike builders. Based in La Bonneville.
Then of course we have also MAVIC bars and stems..some very interesting and serious designs, and also JPR..an off-shoot of Routens. Who made their products..? Well I think I know, but need just that little more proof..
Returning to the ATAX brand, I wonder why Jacques Anquetil always rode the PIVO version of the classic 1950 designed stem..and not an ATAX one?
Norris Lockley..Settle UK -
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