It's been a bad start to the New Year for as both my camera and my computer have packed up ! I'm convinced that the manufacturers put these little silicon chips inside to trigger off the equipment's terminal decline. Both articles were exactly one year and eleven months old...both bought in December two years ago..and so I am sure that their demise is planned to make me buy new ones at Christmas.
Any way, now to something that is fifty years old and still going strong. Don Wilson brought this lovel;y old 50s FOLLIS (Ebay item 37001375030) to the List's notice some days ago, and the auction has less than a day to go with no bids to date.
OK back in those days FOLLIS was a much bigger company and even made motorbikes, but they also made some excellent stuff and have continued to do so right up until Mr Chollet decided to call it a day quite recently, due to the fact that there was no one to succeed him in the company. I have no doubt whatsoever that some of the top level Follis bikes and frames were every bit as good as the Singers and Herse of this world.
Anyway back to the Ebay bike. The lugs that Don points out have the two words "FOLLIS and "LYON" stamped out of them...no..the work is not filed and fretted..just stamped, but FOLLIS liked to use these sets for his better end bikes. If you don't believe me then we shall have to ask Aldo if he can magic up a Photo of the Day showing the great French rider, Jeajn Forestier, winning the 1954 Paris-Roubaix on his FOLLIS..with those same lugs..just about visible underneath the crud.
In 2003 the Semaine Federale, the French week of cycle-touring attracted some 12,000 keen randonneurs into the small town of Crest,in the pre-Alps where I am lucky enough to have bought a large static caravan located on a small col some years ago, just a quick trip away from l'Alpe d'Huez and Mont Ventoux.
During the week I was lucky to find a 50s FOLLIS road racing bike..all Simplex etc in a S/H shop for about £20..and at a street market I bought a copy of Le Miroir de Cyclisme showing Forestier, on his FOLLIS..taking a corner on the pave in a rather dangerous manner. I was delighted that my new acquisition sported the same lugs as Forestier's bike..and they were chromed in the same way.
It just happened that some friends of mine, the Duret company who build the Geliano and Jean-Marie Duret ranges of frames were exhibiting in the large canvas-covered show hall...and that I was standing in as a shop assistant for them. Close by there were two stands attracting enormous numbers of visitors..and it was pleasing to see that all the sun-burned ccylists were not there just for the free wine..but to talk about bikes.
One stand , that of the Confrerie des 650..an Association Sportif of hardened tourists who still have not discovered the 700 mm wheeled bike..and next door, there was the FOLLIS stand, just about heaving over under the weight of FOLLIS bikes, tandems and the occasional tandem-trike that were leaning up against the steel supports of the canvas structure.
A very happy and good-houmoured M Chollet was holding Court..Elbowing my way through the throng I managed to implant myself directly in front of "le Patron" and dangled my newly discovered 1950s FOLLIS frame and the copy of LE Miroir in front of him. To say he was delighted would be to much under estimate his response as he snatched away the frame and the magazine and attempted rather dangerously to hold both articles in full view of his admirers whilst trying to point out with forefingers that Forestier rode a FOLLIS just like the one he held before them..implying by association, I assume, that they too, proud owners of the marque' bikes..were true descendants of that proud generation of hard French roadmen..
Since the closure of the FOLLIS workshop on Rue Danton, the bikes bearing the brand will start to be come rarer and their value to appreciate. IMHO there can't be too many bikes of the size and quality of the Ebay FOLLIS still available.. Buy Now!
Norris Lockley
Settle uK
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