a precursor
The Viratelle company was established in Paris in 1907 with the support of the Blanc-Garin & Cie company.
Marcel had begun working on the first patents and prototypes in 1905, which he then invested in the capital of his company in 1918:
FRENCH PATENTS:
A patent for invention awarded in France on June 1, 1906 under number 364,844 for 15 years relating to a gear change applicable particularly to motoring
a patent for invention awarded in France on February 15, 1907 under number 372,273 for 15 years for a gear change intended for motoring.
FOREIGN PATENTS:
Foreign patent a patent taken out in England on April 2, 1906 under number 7,704 for a period of 14 years for a gear change applicable particularly to motoring.
A patent was also granted in England on December 7, 1906 under number 26,905 for a period of 14 years for a gear change intended for motor vehicles.
A patent for invention awarded in America on April 25, 1911 under number 990,824 for a period of 17 years for a gear change intended for motoring.
a patent for invention awarded in Belgium on March 27, 1907 under number 198,922 for 20 years for a gear change intended for motoring.
a patent for invention awarded in Belgium on March 27, 1907 under number 198 922 for 20 years for a gear change intended for motoring.
a patent for invention awarded in Switzerland on April 1, 1907 under number 46179 for 15 years for a gear change intended for motoring.
A patent for invention was granted in Austria on November 10, 1910 under number 46,161 for 15 years for a gear change intended for motor vehicles.
PROTOTYPES:
a Viratelle with a 600 cm3 cylinder capacity, 3 speeds and reverse, kick starter.
a Viratelle motorcycle with a 176 cm3 cylinder capacity, water circulation, ventilated radiator, 3 speeds, crank-start engine
a Viratelle motorcycle with a 197 cm3 cylinder capacity, air-cooled, 3 speeds, crank-start engine
a Viratelle motorcycle with a 218 cm3 cylinder capacity, water circulation, ventilated radiator, 3 speeds, engine start by crank, this machine is coupled with a sidecar.
a Viratelle motorcycle with sidecar, 350 cm3 cylinder capacity, water circulation, ventilated radiator, 3 speeds, crank-start engine , in 1916 as shown in the photo below taken in April 1916 at the Parc de la Tête d'Or in Lyon:
Viratelle Photo
We note that the suspension is of the Druid parallelogram fork type and is not that of the latest patented slatted models.
He was already riding with the sidecar model that he was going to industrialize, it is probably this technological maturity that allowed him to promote the studies of his previous company created on April 27, 1907: "Viratelle et Cie" by obtaining the support of investors.
He came from a modest family and was only two years old when he lost his father.
Our grandmother said: "He could have sold his patents because he had been offered to do so but he never agreed to do so because he wanted his name on his motorcycles.
He rarely traveled by car, preferring a motorbike or sidecar.
Marcel had no children and had "taken under his wing" our grandfather Marcel (desired) whom he took to Lyon where he had a "golden childhood".
Marcel lived in Seine et Marne in Pontault-Combault towards the end of his life and often came to the café in Mondreville to see his family.
Article derived from Moto-Histo.com :
"On sait relativement peu de choses de la marque Viratelle, si ce n'est qu'elle a existé de 1907 à 1924....."
("Relatively little is known about the Viratelle brand, except that it existed from 1907 to 1924.....")
This site will go some way to filling this gap.
.
.....Ce dont on est sur, également, c'est qu'elle aurait du révolutionner le monde de la moto, puisqu'elle était dotée d'un bloc-moteur (donc : d'une boite de vitesses), refroidi par eau, d'une transmission finale par chaîne ainsi que d'une suspension avant......
(.....What we are also sure of is that it should have revolutionized the world of motorcycling, since it was equipped with an engine block (therefore: a gearbox), cooled by water, a final transmission by chain as well as a front suspension......)
we can add: a semi-automatic gearbox, a quick coupling system for the sidecar option, a dual-control drum brake, a single-control carburetor, a full rider suspension system...
..
.....Chacun de ces éléments était déjà rare individuellement à cette époque. Ils ne s'étaient jamais retrouvés réunis sur une seule moto ... et n'apparaîtront en série que 70 ans plus tard ! ( GT 750 SUZUKI de 1975 3 cylindres 2 temps à refroidissement liquide)
On ne peut qu'en déduire qu'une telle moto est apparue trop tôt. Ce qui a probablement entraîné sa disparition précoce."
En: .....Each of these elements was already rare individually at that time. They had never been found together on a single motorcycle ... and would not appear in series until 70 years later! (GT 750 SUZUKI from 1975 3 cylinder 2 stroke with liquid cooling) We can only deduce that such a motorcycle appeared too early. Which probably led to its early disappearance."
Competition in the Lyon region was also very strong since many motorcycle brands were present at that time ( Deronzière , New-Map , Koehler-Escoffier , Simard , Bufflier , MGC , Monet-Goyon , BFG...) .
The post-war context was also unfavorable to the French motorcycle industry, in fact, for the price of a 350 VIRATELLE, it was possible to acquire two Harleys with sidecars in military surplus sales.
In addition, the history of the VIRATELLE company is closely linked to that of SLIM ("Société Lyonnaise d'Industrie Mécanique") in fact the main shareholders of the VIRATELLE motorcycle and automobile company were none other than Marius ADENOT and Jean Taillandier, themselves shareholders of SLIM.
The VIRATELLE motorcycle and automobile company changed directors in 1923 to become the Société Mécanique Industrielle du Rhöne, but the bankruptcy of SLIM in 1925 caused the brand to disappear definitively.
Marcel had the misfortune of living in a time when he experienced two world wars and the repercussions of the 1929 economic crisis in Europe.
Source: Viratelle Archive
