[CR]1976 A.M.R D/G tandem on French Ebay -

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

From: "Norris Lockley" <norris@norrislockley.wanadoo.co.uk>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2006 22:15:53 +0100
Subject: [CR]1976 A.M.R D/G tandem on French Ebay -

For anyone wanting to own a very rare French tandem, one that must certainly be destined to be a classic- French style- this auction should be studied closely.-Item No7246937598.

AMR - Ateliers de Maison Rouge - was an icon of the then French lightweight cycle industry in the 70s and 80s, being one of the new companies to set up in an attempt to keep alive the high standards of French hand-built touring and racing machines.

Based at Tonnerre, the company opened up, in the late 70s, a small boutique shop just across the large roundabout from the bottom of the Boulevard de la Grande Armee... virtually Paris' "cycle street", in order to show to an enthusiastic public the company's wares. All frames..and machines were custom made..no two were alike unless ordered the same.

The company was very avant-garde in its outlook, being the first to produce, in the late 70s frames with aero-profile tubes, the tubes retaining cyclindrical ends so that either standard lugs , or lugless joints could be employed. I remember stumbling across the boutique one day just after I had visited the large Peugeot showroom about 100 metres away on "..La Grande Armee" . The display was breath-taking..so many unique frames and bikes displayed in such a small place. I recall vividly admiring the two "randonneur" frames displayed one behind the other, the front one a 49cms one and the other a 63cms one - a study in angles and proportions. Like a little boy looking into a sweet-shop window..I had difficulty dragging myself away from the display.

Very shortly afterwards the company, anticipating the demand for low-profile frames, produced tube-sets with curved seat and top tubes..all the other tubes being aero section.

The tandem for auction is built from CAMUS tubes. Camus was quite a large company that produced tubing for all manner of applications, moving into the cycle market in the early 70s, and supplying many of the "tout Francais" type of frame-builders who would never lay a hand on a set of Columbus or Reynolds. My close friend Jean-Marie Duret, owner of the "Geliano" and "J-M Duret" brands never used anything else for years.

being so impressed by the machines I saw in the AMR boutique I tracked down the workshop at Tonnerre and contracted with them, as distributors for France for CAMUS, to import the tube-sets into the UK. The tubes were, in a sense, quite unsophisticated, all of the series being plain gauge Chro-Mo ones, with varying wall thicknesses. They were usually very light , very uncomplicated to work, easy to braze or bronze-weld..and produced very comfortable easy handling frames. One customer compared the weight of his training frame in CAMUS 779 to that of his Columbus Genius "best frame", but the ride to be far superior to the Italian tube.

The company AMR continued into the 90s and only disappeared when the owner's son, Camille Liebert, followed his artistic bent by taking up a career on the stage in Paris rather than following the "succession" and taking over the reins of his father's company. Of all the tubes I have worked with I always think of CAMUS as one of the most pleasant, measured in working properties and quality of ride of the finished frame.

At a starting price of 450 euros the AMR tandem looks very cheap indeed. If anyone is interested and would need it collecting, just email off-List.

Only recently I managed to buy an AMR "..fast day bike"..with its shortened and lightened Prugnat lugs, AMR-manufactured radical rear drop-outs, Mafac cantis, and patriotic red/white/blue air-brush paint job, it really is a head-turner.

Apart from my enthusiasm for AMR frames..I have no pecuniary interest in the tandem, and do not know the seller.

Norris Lockley, Settle UK