Buchet built motorcycles, tricycles and quadris under this brand, and also built engines for tricycles and motorcycles.
One of their motorcycles, produced around 1905, sported a three-cylinder V engine. To date it is unclear whether they built it themselves or it is actually an Anzani, whose one V3 appeared a little later. An example of this remarkable machine was in the Guélon Collection.
Alcyon, Baileul, Fournier, Perfecta, Presto, Walter and numerous other a French marques used engines from Buchet. They were also fitted to British motorcycles Avondale and Charlton, the latter using a 402cc engine. Another British machine, the Powerful from Coventry sported a 2 h.p. Buchet.
Elie Victor Buchet was born in Nantes in 1860. He died in Levallois in 1902.
High Power Novelties from France.
It is a fantastic vehicle, the 32 h.p. tricycle which we illustrate on this page. It is a speed monster of the purest type, and as such can hardly be surpassed. The extremely interesting photo comes from the well-known Paris motor firm Buchet, whose works produce what the French papers call the "bête de vitesse." Buchet endeavours at ail times to astonish the world by his speed, but in this tricycle he has produced a machine which is not equalled by any other motor vehicle now known. This machine is claimed to have - and we give the information with all reserve - a speed of 200 kilometres (124 miles) per hour. The first official test of the vehicle should have been made at the recent Gaillou Hill-climbing trials, but it was found impossible to start the monster uphill on account of the sharp incline. In spite of this it will not be long before Buchet upsets all the world records which have been hitherto established.
The most interesting feature is certainly the motor and the design for the transmission of power. What kind of a motor is it? Two cylinders without water-cooling, with smooth cylinder walls and radiating flanges only on the exhaust valve At the end of the power stroke the cylinders are opened to permit a part of the exhausted gases to escape speedily into the open. The bore of each cylinder is 130 millimetres (5 1/8 inches) and the stroke is 160 millimetres (6 ¼ inches). The horse power is 32.
Source: Motor Cycling Magazine, Nov 5th 1902.
Report from the 1903 Stanley Show
La Societe des Automobile Francaise
are exhibiting latest pattern Buchet engines. This firm have the control of the 1904 Buchet
engines for the whole of Great Britain, and in addition to the engine they are showing a frame
with double top tube and brass tank, which is especially suitable for the Buchet motor when
fitted in a vertical position. A fine showcase of accessories of the very latest type,
embodying a new handle-bar switch which is extremely neat, is shown, and many other accessories
which will be of great interest to motor cyclists. (Stand 13.)
The Motor Cycle, Nov 25th 1903
Notes:
1. 15 rue Greffulhe, Levaloiis in 1900. (2017 Wikipedia information differs).
Sources:
Graces Guide
zhumoriste.over-blog.com
Bourdache numerous references (pp 95-98 etc)
The Motor Cycle
