French Motorcycles

Ducommum Motorcycles

A Brief History of the Marque

Mulhouse, 1899

Founded in 1834, Ducommun was based in Mulhouse which was at the time an independent French state surrounded by German-controlled Alsace. The location of the factory was "between le Faubourg de Colmar et la place Franklin" and is about 1.5km from the Cité de l'Automobile.
Paris depot: 18 blv Magenta, Paris

The Mulhouse factory specialized in the construction of machines for engraving rolls used in the printing of fabrics. In 1853 the company moved to the buildings located between the Faubourg de Colmar et la place Franklin. In 1875, they were the first to use electric lighting. They also manufactured dynamos.

On July 6, 1899 the company filed a patent in Switzerland for a machine which closely resembled the much later Velosolex.
In 1900 they produced a bicycle engine which was affixed to the front wheel with transmission by very long belt to the rear wheel.

The Manurhin scooter was also manufactured in Mulhouse.


Sources:

lavieamulhouse.com
Moto-Histo.com
JLB Creations
Bourdache pp 109, 434

If you have a query about Ducommum or have some information to add about these vintage French motorcycles, please contact us