Vintage French Motorcycles
Paris
Veteran French Tricycle
M. Lombard
French Boardtrack
Motorcycle and Trailer
Famous French Racer
This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis. There is also a page on really obscure French brands.
For a more complete listing visit the French Index.
H Errard
20 Rue Réaumu, Paris (Sales)
Established in the early 1930s as a bicycle manufacturer, having taken over from ZAS cycles around 1924. By 1955 the firm's factory at 3 Rue Palissy, St Etienne, had a workforce of 110 people when they merged with the Cocymo group. Their motorcycles were marketed under the Métropole brand from 1945 until 1959. During those years they were one of the "constructeurs réunis", with Piat and Randoin.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
H. Mathevet
42 Rue du 11 novembre, St Etienne
In the late 20s and early 30s the firm built frames for bicycles and motorcycles. It appears that they built the Wéthy brand of bicycles and light motorcycles.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Hallot
1904
Ets Giron,
38 rue Vanneau, Paris
Built motorcycles with using Z.L. V-twin and single cylinder engines
Bourdache p436
Hammond et Mouter
Hammond et Monnier were bicycle dealers who presented a machine at the 1902 Paris Salon. They sold the firm to the Duc d'Uzes around 1907. It is unclear whether they built motocyclettes, but as their main trade was bicycles this seems likely.
A 1920 catalogue from J. Hammond, Mouter Ce of 9, Rue Descombes, Paris, lists a considerable variety of bicycle parts.
Sources: Bourdache p146; contemporary advertising.
Hanzer Frères
4 rue Baudin, Ivry (seine)
1899, Motor tricycle
Bourdache p436
Harding-JAP 1912-1914
Harrissard
G. HARRISSARD et Cie, Constructeurs. 33, Rue G.-H.-Marsaud GENNEVILLIERS (Seine)
Harrissard engines were fitted to CP Roleo, and employed by Durandal. There is an article in la Revue du Motocyclettiste N°101, Découverte: Les moteurs Harrissard.
Harwill
Manufactured by Huber et Bailleul, 43 et 45, rue Jules-Ferry, Bagnolet (Seine)
At least two models were available in 1925, the Modele L and the Modele S. They had two-stroke engines of 150cc (56x60mm) and 175cc (62x69mm).
Sources: Period literature
Hasty
1930-1934
Based in Aix-en-Provence, the firm built BMA lightweights using Aubier-Dunne engines of 98cc.
Sources: wikipedia.nl, Tragatsch p159
Helvetia
1898-1900
Built in Combs-la-Ville Paris, an "Elektromobile".
Developed by Jaques Fischer-Hinnen, production was to have taken place in Switzerland, but economic constraints prevented this..
Sources: morger.net; auto-einbau.de.
Hémy engines
Ets Paul de Marne et Cie, 3 boulevard Latour-Maubourg, Paris (7°)[1]
Ets G M R, 8-10, Boulevard Gouvion-Saint-Cyr, Paris 17°
1946-1954, built 34cc and 48cc two-stroke bicycle engines (hilfsmotor) named L'Hemycycle, with others advertised as HEMY (no accent).
N.B. Cyclememory gives the first address for the Type 102 34cc engine, and the second for Types 109 (48cc) and 120 (34cc).
Sources: La Moto Francaise, Moped SE
Henri Vallée 1905
Henriod C.E. 1898-1902
Hernis
Ateliers de construction mécanique d'Asnières,
47 quai d'Asnières, Asnières (seine)
1897. Petrol engines for automobiles and motorcycles from 1 to 8hp
Bourdache p436
H.L.B.
Paris representative, 83 rue Lafayette
Manufacturer of arms and bicycles in Saint-Etienne. Motorcycle 330 cc with magneto ignition. Related to Deronzière and Rupta.
Produced a ¾ hp engine adaptable to bicycles
Bourdache p436
HRD
Previously HRD of Varese, Italy, the marque was bought by the Mazères Aviation group and moved to France around 1997. In 2001 the factory was purchased by the Spanish firm Sherco, and is now the company headquarters for this truly European marque which also boasts strong German connections.
Source: ladepeche.fr
Huco
The St Etienne firm sold re-branded Ravat motorcycles in the 1950s. The Huco Type 154/4 is very similar to the Ravat 154 and has a type R9 4-speed engine, and a 1957 Type H52 has a 100cc Sachs engine.
There appears to have been a connection with Paul Huffschmitt of Strasbourg.
Source: Motos dans la Loire
Hunter 1920s
Rarer French Marques
