Featured Pages
Ariba Ariba
Supercharged 500cc DOHC Watercooled Four, 1928
Riva Four

Three at a Squeeze
A confounded contraption
Atlanta Duo

Destined for Legend
Road Tests of New Models
Wooler 1921

High quality photography of Vintage, Classic and Racing motorcycles. An introduction to his encyclopedic catalogue is available here:
Phil Aynsley's Motorcycle Portfolio

Today in Motorcycle History

Map shows the proposed location of the museum in Ménil-Flin

Many photographs of the collection included here are by Dreer Francis of BigBlock Agency, France.
bigblockagency.blogspot.com

Collection de Maurice Chapleur

The pre-1915 section of the museum is considered one of the most important of its type in the world

It is official, confirmed Jean-Baptiste Chapleur who for months has moved heaven and earth to save the unique collection assemble by his grandfather Maurice Chapleur; the Chapleur collection is finally saved under conditions more than reasonable. A very attractive deal for the town hall of Amneville which should take some 2 million Euros from the sale between the collection, € 1.5 M, and the land, € 0.5 M. A fine profit which it hardly deserves given its past actions.

It is a return to the fold - or almost - for the famous collection of which Alexandre Michel, CEO of the transport company Transalliance has bought for the same amount of 1.5 M € offered by the first buyer. The 206 listed pieces of the Chapleur collection will be first exposed to the public at the Chennevrières motor race circuit managed by the company Passeport-Prévention subsidiary Transalliance. It is expected to move to the former premises of the Menil-Flin seminary, 18 kilometers from its original location at Château de Lunéville.

So good news and immense relief to see this beautiful part of the French motorcycle heritage remain whole and accessible to the public. However, vigilance is necessary because the collection is not sold to a national museum that guarantees its conservation, but to a private organization that can discard all or part of the collection at any time.

Original article at moto-collection.org

Website: chapleur.org
Facebook: fb.com/CollectionChapleur

L'association des Amis de la collection de Maurice Chapleur est née de la volonté de valoriser la plus incroyable collection de motos et de vélos d'avant 1914 constituée par un homme tout au long de sa vie. ? Ne voulant pas voir ce patrimoine unique accaparé par les spéculateurs, nous avons décidé de nous unir pour trouver une solution pérenne et offrir un écrin à la moto française au même titre que la Collection Schlumpf pour l'automobile à Mulhouse ? Nous sommes tous des passionnés. Chacun d'entre nous peut, à son niveau, mobiliser, informer, militer pour que les plus belles motos du patrimoine européen retrouvent leur place au sein d'un musée vivant de la moto. ? Nos buts sont uniquement patrimoniaux, dans le respect et la liberté des générations à venir à disposer d'un patrimoine qui leur permettra de comprendre l'histoire de nos ancêtres...

Tout de même on ne peut s'empêcher de penser au laboureur, parlant à ses enfants, de la fable de Jean de Lafontaine . "Gardez vous, leur dit-il, de vendre l'héritage que vous ont laissé vos parents, un trésor est caché dedans"

Of the 230 motorcycles in the collection some sixty of them date from before 1914. It is the most important collection known in the world of these two- and three-wheeled pioneers. The Chapleur collection also contains many items related to the practice and maintenance of such vehicles.

Housed for many years at the Musée d'Amnéville les Thermes, the collection of motorcycles and bicycles was assembled and restored throughout its existence by Maurice Chapleur (1912-2005).

The Friends of Maurice Chapleur Collection association was created to support and maintain the collection of motor cycles and bicycles built prior to the Great War, the life's work of a truly remarkable motorcyclist.

In order to prevent this unique heritage being sold to speculators, the group united to find a lasting solution and offer a showcase for the French motorcycle in a manner similar to the magnificent Schlumpf Collection in nearby Mulhouse

We are passionate

Each member can, in their own manner, mobilize, inform, and campaign so that the most beautiful motorcycles of European heritage find their place in a living museum of the motorcycle.

Their goal is to offer future generations to a heritage which will further the appreciation of the history of our ancestors.

"Gardez vous, leur dit-il, de vendre l'héritage que vous ont laissé vos parents, un trésor est caché dedans"

The Collection

Motorcycles to 1914

Alcyon 1905 - 1300cc Competition Buchet V-twin

Alcyon 1906 2½hp Battery ignition, automatic intake valve, belt drive, Zurcher engine, front suspension with intermediate spring

Alcyon 1914 4hp - V-twin, 2 controlled valves, magneto ignition, 2 speeds, kick start, Zurcher engine, clutch, patented Alcyon front fork.

Anzani 1908 - Moto de Stayer, 1600cc Anzani engine, V-twin, belt transmission, single speed. Capable of over 100 km/h.

Ariel 1905 5 cv Touring motorcycle, single-speed, battery ignition, controlled valves, belt drive

Bruneau 1901 2cv Battery ignition, automatic valves, chain drive, rigid fork.

BSA 1916 Expeditionary - 4 hp½ Belt drive with gearbox, brake on pulley. British military motorcycle.

Buchet 1906 Stayer single cylinder 5 hp Magneto ignition, intake valve, rigid fork

Chenard-Walker 1897 Tricar

Clement 1902 1¾ cv Autocyclette. Battery ignition, automatic valves, round belt drive, spring fork, auxiliary motor Clément

Clement 1912 4½ hp V-Twin Crank start, MAG engine, 3-speed gearbox. Identical to some Motosacoche and Royal Enfield models.

De Dion Bouton 1895 330cc Tricycle Automatic intake valves, Direct drive, Battery ignition.

Dion Bouton 1902 motorcycle, cylindrical tank.

FN 1901 Four

FN 1902 bicyclette

FN 1904

FN 1912

FN 1913

FN 1912 4 Cyl.

Givaudan 1900 Trimoteur

Griffon 1904

Griffon 1907 (two models)

Griffon Griffon de Stayer 1905

La Francais 1904

Lurquin Coudert 1904

Magnat Debon 1911

Mirus 1904

Magnier 1901

Moto Reve 1908 V-twin

Moto Reve 1909 Type D V-twin

Panthère 1904 3½ H.P. Peugeot Engine

Peugeot 1902 Type C

Peugeot 1904 Type E

Peugeot 1905 Type P

Peugeot 1905 Type L

Peugeot 1905 Type Z

Peugeot 1911 Type MD

Peugeot 1912 Type MD2

Peugeot MC 1914 Type MC V-twin

Pontherey 1901

Rochet 1905 MG

Rochet 1908, cylindrical tank

René Gillet 1904, V-twin

René Gillet 1906 Tandem, V-twin

René Gillet 1910

Sarolea 1904 3hp

Triumph 1912 Type C

Triumph 1914

Terrot 1908 & 1909

Terrot 1913

Terrot 1910 motorette n°3

Werner 1901

Motorcycles built after 1914

ABC Gnome & Rhone 1920

ABC Skootamota 1921

AJS 1951 7R 350cc Racing machine

Alcyon 1920 3 cv - 4-stroke Zurcher engine, side valves, separate gearbox, 2 speeds, belt drive, kick start, Alcyon fork

Alcyon 1924 175cc - 2 t Zurcher engine, transmission by chain, 2 speeds, magneto ignition, starting by kick, fork Alcyon

Alcyon 1928 BMA Alcyonnette Lady 100cc Engine Zurcher, chain drive, single speed, clutch, fork Alcyon

Ariel 1933 4F - 6cv Square Four 600cc 4 cylinders, 4 speed gearbox, suitable for side car work.

Automoto 1924 Automotorette - 175cc Lightweight motorcycle, belt transmission, 2-speed, 2-stroke engine, oscillating fork

Bleriot 1920 B20 Tourism - 5 cv - 500cc 2-cylinder engine side-by-side 4-stroke, 3-speed, belt transmission, flanged wheels. Manufactured by the aircraft manufacturer.

BMW 1927 R42 - 500cc Flat-twin transverse Lateral motor, rear brake with segments, transmission by cardan, front suspension BMW

Brockhouse Corgi 1948

BSA 1933 Y13 - 5cc - 500cc 2 tilted cylinders, 4 speed gearbox, selector on foot, telescopic fork, dashboard on tank.

Clement Gladiator 1927 Lullaby - 500cc Suspension front and rear called "the lullaby", Engine with lateral valves.

Cleveland 1922 (USA) Single cylinder - 270cc 2-stroke, transverse motor, chain drive, crankshaft in direction of travel completed by bronze worm gear, chain drive, front and rear suspension.

Cockerell 1922 110cc - 2 tps Lightweight motorcycle, 2 speeds, transmission by chain and belt. Built by the designer of the famed Megola which has a radial engine in the front wheel.

CP Roleo 1926 C5 - 350cc sheet metal frame, speedometer, LMP engine, separate 3 speed gearbox.

Darmont 1927 750cc - 7 Cv - Supersport 3 wheels, 2 gears, no reverse gear, Built under Morgan license

Derny 1939

Derny 1950

DFR 1922

DKW 1929

Dollar 1928 Model R3 350cc

Douglas 1927

Dresch 1925

Elite 1925

Elite 1926

Evans 1921