Founded around 1897 and originally operating from 299, Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Paris, the firm built industrial engines and later supplied motorcycle engines to other firms including Olympia, Saving, C. Coudert and Gloria.
From 1901 until 1914 1 Lurquin-Coudert produced "voiturette-tricars"; a twin-cylinder model ran in the touring class at the 1907 Chateau-Thierry hillclimb, and cyclecars with V-twin Train engines went into production beginning in 1910.
The company's first motocyclette appeared in 1902, with two of these appearing that year at Deauville piloted by Charles Coudert and Edmond Lurquin.
The 1904 catalogue listed several motorcycles; a 2¾ h.p. Touring model, a road-racing model (4hp and 80km/h) and a circuit-racing model (5 hp and 95 km/h). That year they occupied a newly constructed five-story factory at 19, rue Planchat.
In 1906, ownership of the company passed to Charles Lacour of 19 rue Planchat, Paris. Lacour was closely associated with the L&C firm, and the C.Courdert models of 1909 were all but identical to those of L&C. The new owner continued to market the Lurquin & Coudert brand, presenting a variety of tricars and motorcycles, and they also revealed the first of their cyclecars (voiturettes). For 1910, the range included a 45° racing V-twin motorcycle of 803cc (80x80mm B/S), and their voiturettes had taken on the appearance of automobiles, some of which were powered by water-cooled V-twins and others by inline fours of 10, 14 and 14hp.
Lurquin and Coudert, Rue du Faubourg, St. Antoine, Paris, have two patterns of motor-bicycles exhibited. One of these has the motor placed vertically in the frame, being clamped about the centre of the down tube. The motor is of 1¾ h.p. , and the drive is by a flat belt. The carburetter and battery case are placed in the angle between the horizontal and diagonal tubes. An F.N. carburetter is fitted, and in this pattern a lubricator and pump is attached to the top tube. The other pattern has the motor fitted in a special frame, the crank case being bolted to special lugs. Ignition is by coil and accumulator, these being placed inside the tank case compartment. The control of the speed is by means of a spark advance lever working across a kind of ratchet. Two brakes are used, namely, a Bowden back and front tyre brake. The weight comes out at about 8olbs. The motor set can be purchased separately, and the complete machine comes out at £34
Paris Salon 1902 in Motor Cycling, December 17th, 1902. Page 346
Lurquin and Coudert in Britain
L and C were the initials of Lurquin and Coudert, the new name of the Leonard firm of Long Acre, London, who produced motorcycles in 1904.
Notes
1. In the Chapleur collection there is a Lurquin-Coudert motorcycle, a photograph of which dates it as a 1904 model. Some histories give 1906 or 1907 as the date of commencement; however the excellent zhumoriste site goes to some lengths to explain why the date is most likely 1902 and possibly 1901. Also, lestricars.es.tl writes that motorcycles were first advertised in 1902.
Sources:
If you have a query or have some information about this marque please contact us
