Hirondelle derailleurs

Hirondelle is the brand of Manufacture Française d’Armes et Cycles (also known as Manufrance), an iconic business based in St Étienne, France.

It would not be totally ridiculous to style Manufacture Française d’Armes et Cycles as the Amazon of its time. The world wide web was first tested in 1990 and by 1994 Jeff Bezos had founded Amazon to sell one of the stodgiest and most traditional of retail goods - books. His blinding innovation was to get properly organised to sell over the internet - arguably the first company to do so. From there on Amazon was unstoppable, selling everything under the sun and terrifying bricks-and-mortar retailers throughout the world.

In 1879 the french post office was organised into its modern form and by 1887 Étienne Mimard and Pierre Blachon had founded Manufacture Française d’Armes et Cycles. Initially they specialized in, wait for it, those, at the time, crucially modern, fast growing and must-have commodities - small arms and bicycles. Its blinding innovation was to get properly organised to sell by mail order - the first company to do so in France. From there on Manufacture Française d’Armes et Cycles was unstoppable, selling everything under the sun and terrifying bricks-and-mortar retailers throughout France. It’s worth noting that Sears also only issued its first mail order catalogue in the US in 1888.

Weirdly, for many years Manufacture Française d’Armes et Cycles seemed to think that one key element of their mail order operation should be that they actually manufactured a significant fraction of the goods that they sold. Their operation in St Étienne appears to have covered the acreage of a decent sized town and to have employed a crowd of workers that would exceed the gate at many a Premier League Football Clubs. This commitment to manufacturing created a critical mass of demand in St Étienne for bicycle components and, perhaps more important, a critical mass of skilled and knowledgable cycle engineers.

Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the Manufacture Française d’Armes et Cycles mail order catalogue became gradually vaster and more encyclopedic - but it generally included a healthy section featuring their own Hirondelle brand of bikes and a fair selection of surprisingly practical cycling accessories and clothing (although I have my reservations about the range of compact, lightweight, cyclist’s pistols on offer - 6 Francs for a single shot, 15 Francs for a revolver). However, all things run their courses, and from the start of the second world war Manufacture Française d’Armes et Cycles, now renamed Manufrance, gradually lost its way, not least because Étienne Mimard refused to collaborate with the Germans and the company was severely punished as a result. By 1979 Manufrance was locked into a sequence of financial crises and liquidations - a story in which the name of Bernard Tapie inevitably appears. Following liquidation in 1985, in 1988 the rump of the company was purchased by a local businessman called Jacques Tavitian, who remains in control today.

In terms of the history of the derailleur, Hirondelle and Manufrance played two bit parts:

Firstly the Hirondelle bicycle brand was the leading exponent of the retro-direct system. This was a looped chain and double freewheel layout that gave one gear ratio when you pedaled forward and another when you pedaled backwards. No levers, cables, derailleurs or other fragile complexities were required. It sounds crazy to the modern cyclist, but the retro-direct was the main alternative to the derailleur for the first three decades of the 20th century, selling in serious volume.
Secondly Manufrance manufactured their own derailleurs. Frank Berto mentions a lightweight ‘Super-Barat’ model introduced in the 1930s and the 1939 Manufrance touring model that was very derivative of the classic Cyclo design, using a double cable and a helical drive system.

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: January 1901
Derailleur brands: de Vivie, Columbia, Hirondelle, Peugeot, Whippet
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle January 1901 - Un peu plus de lumiere scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: February 1901
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle, Peugeot, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle February 1901 - Le Cyclisme au Salon scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: March 1901
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle March 1901 - Revue des inventions nouvelles scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: July 1902
Derailleur brands: de Vivie, Hirondelle, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle July 1902 - Concours de Bicyclettes de Tourisme (part I) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: August 1902
Derailleur brands: BSA, de Vivie, Hirondelle, Peugeot, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle August 1902 - Concours de Bicyclettes de Tourisme (part II) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: September 1902
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle, Peugeot, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle September 1902 - Concours de Bicyclettes de Tourisme (part III) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: October 1902
Derailleur brands: BSA, de Vivie, Hirondelle, Peugeot, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle October 1902 - Concours de Bicyclettes de Tourisme (part IV) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: January 1905
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle, Peugeot, Terrot
Derailleurs: Terrot Modèle H

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle January 1905 - La Bicyclette au Salon scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: July 1905
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle, Peugeot, Raleigh, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle July 1905 - Concours de Bicyclettes de Voyage (part I) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: September 1905
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle, Raleigh, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle September 1905 - Concours de Bicyclettes de Voyage (part II) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: October 1905
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle, Raleigh, Terrot
Derailleurs: Terrot Modèle H

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle October 1905 - Concours de Bicyclettes de Voyage (part III) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: November 1905
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle, Raleigh, Terrot
Derailleurs: Terrot Modèle H

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle November 1905 - Concours de Bicyclettes de Voyage (part IV) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: February 1906
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle February 1906 - Le Salon cycliste de 1905 (part I) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: January 1907
Derailleur brands: de Vivie, Hirondelle, Peugeot, Raleigh, Terrot
Derailleurs: Terrot Modèle H

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle January 1907 - La Bicyclette de Voyage au Salon scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: December 1907
Derailleur brands: de Vivie, Hirondelle, Peugeot, Terrot
Derailleurs: Terrot Modèle H

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle December 1907 - La Bicyclette de Voyage au Salon (part I) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: January 1908
Derailleur brands: de Vivie, Hirondelle, Prével d’Arlay, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle January 1908 - La Bicyclette de Voyage au Salon (part II) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: January 1909
Derailleur brands: de Vivie, Hirondelle, Peugeot, Terrot
Derailleurs: none

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle January 1909 - La Bicyclette au Salon (part I) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: February 1909
Derailleur brands: de Vivie, Hirondelle, Terrot
Derailleurs: Terrot Modèle H

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle February 1909 - La Bicyclette au Salon (part II) scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: January 1911
Derailleur brands: Boizot, de Vivie, Loubeyre, Hirondelle, Peugeot, Terrot, Whippet
Derailleurs: Boizot Tri-direct, Loubeyre Polycelere, Terrot Modèle H, Terrot Modèle HE, Whippet New Protean

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle January 1911 - La Bicyclette au Salon scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: April 1911
Derailleur brands: Boizot, de Vivie, Hirondelle, Peugeot, Terrot, Whippet
Derailleurs: Terrot Modèle H

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle April 1911 - Un Nouveau Concours? scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: March 1913
Derailleur brands: Boizot, de Vivie, Fichtel & Sachs, Loubeyre, Hirondelle, Peugeot, Prével d’Arlay, Sturmey-Archer, Terrot, Whippet
Derailleurs: Boizot 5 Speed, Terrot Modèle H, Terrot Modèle HT, Terrot Numéro 1

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle March 1913 - La Bicyclette hors du Salon scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: December 1920
Derailleur brands: Audouard, Boizot, Chemineau, Hirondelle, Sturmey-Archer, Terrot, Whippet
Derailleurs: Boizot 4 speed, Boizot 5 speed

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle December 1920 - La Bicyclette de Tourisme en 1921 scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: August 1922
Derailleur brands: As, Audouard, BSA , Chemineau, Sturmey-Archer, Terrot
Derailleurs: Audouard, l’As, Le Chemineau, Terrot Modèle HT

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle August 1922 - La Semaine d'Auvergne scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: November 1922
Derailleur brands: As
Derailleurs: Super As

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle November 1922 - Des nouveautes dans le cyclisme scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: June 1923
Derailleur brands: As, Audouard, Boizot, BSA, Chemineau, Sturmey-Archer
Derailleurs: l’As, Super As, Audouard, Boizot Tri-direct, Boizot 4 speed, Le Chemineau

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle June 1923 - Les resultats du 5e Championnat de la Bicyclette polymultipliee scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: June 1924
Derailleur brands: Audouard, Boizot, BSA, Peugeot, Terrot
Derailleurs: none named

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle June 1924 - L'equipement des brevetes cyclotouristes thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: June 1924
Derailleur brands: As, Audouard, Boizot, BSA, Chemineau, Cyclo, Peugeot, Sturmey-Archer, Terrot
Derailleurs: Super As, Audouard Le Crack, Boizot Le Montagnard, Boizot 4 speed, Le Chemineau, Le Cyclo 2 speed, Le Cyclo 3 speed

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle June 1924 - Le 6e Criterium de la Bicyclette polymultipliee scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: August 1924
Derailleur brands: Audouard, Chemineau, Cyclo, Peugeot
Derailleurs: Audouard, Audouard Le Crack, Le Chemineau, Le Cyclo 2 speed, Le Cyclo 3 speed

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle August 1924 - La Semaine cycliste du Dauphine scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: February 1930
Derailleur brands: Boizot, Chemineau, Cyclo, de Vivie, Super Champion, Terrot
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau, Le Cyclo, Super Champion, Terrot Modèle HT

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle February 1930 - Les derniers perfectionnements du Cycle scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: June 1930
Derailleur brands: Boizot, Chemineau, Cyclo, Terrot
Derailleurs: Boizot Le Montagnard,Le Chemineau, Chemineau L’Izoard, Le Cyclo, Terrot Modèle HT

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle June 1930 - Poly... ou pas Poly scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: January 1931
Derailleur brands: Chemineau, Cyclo, de Vivie
Derailleurs: Le Chemineau, Le Cyclo 3 speed, Le Cyclo 4 speed

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle January 1931 - Les Salons du Cycle en 1930 scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
Date: November 1931
Derailleur brands: Charvin, Chemineau, Cyclo, de Vivie, Idéal
Derailleurs: nothing specific

T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle November 1931 - La cinquieme semaine du cycle de Saint-Etienne scan 1 thumbnail

Publisher: Le Chasseur Français
Date: May 1936
Derailleur brands: Hirondelle, Simplex
Derailleurs: Hirondelle fork-type, Simplex Route Leger