Founded in 1921 by Maurice Jeanson in Asnieres, the company had a retail store in boulevard Montmartre, Paris. A second factory was built in the mid-1920s in Gennevillier. Their first products were cyclecars, and later they built bicycles, automobiles and motorcycles. The company was restructured in 1927 and was renamed Benova. In 1931 it fell victim to the financial disaster engulfing the world, and failed.
An image of a 250cc single built in 1926 shows a single-port two-stroke with "BENJAMIN" cast into the primary chaincase which also extends to the front of the engine to drive the magneto. It has belt drive, with brakes on the belt rim (no front brake), a flat tank and the gear lever mounted on the frame just above the gearbox. The carburettor is on the right side of the engine.
A 1930 advertisement describes four motocyclettes, at least one of which has a JAP engine.
Bourdache goes to some lengths on his blog to explain the relationship between Benjamin and Soyer.
Sources: zhumoriste
March 6, 2002
Name: Jorge Grave
Location: Portugal
email: jorgemgrave at mail.telepac.pt
Comments:
I got an old moto named Benjamin, I think of the begin of 1900 and
I would like to restore it. Have you any reference of it, photos,
where to get the original engine or something related?
Please, inform me .
Thanks
Jorge
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