I think that this frame is quite clearly an early 1950s one, using as it does the Nervex Pro Mk 1 lugset. It seems fairly certain that it is a very upper-end model, possibly even a one-off for a Pro rider, as AUTOMOTO were still actively sponsoring a Pro team in those days.
The famous almost "Raleigh-type" fork crown used by Automoto , with its trefoil inserts had largely been displaced on top-end bikes by the 50s, but did continue to be used in middle range models until the demise of the com pany in the 1960s..
The choice of fork is quite curious for a top-end track bike, and althou gh the cast fork crown used on this bike is a very robust one - it is a mod el very widely used in the 50s - it makes me wonder why AUTOMOTO did not se lect a twin plate, or other similar crown that used round -to-round track b lades.
The hedad badge is different from the one on Martin's 1930s road bike, a nd different from several others that I have in my collection. Earalier one s, possibly from the 1920s and possibly for some models in the 1930s had ca st brass/bronze badges with the fields filled with enamel, in the case of t he trefoils, it was a lovely deep green.
The bike has evidently been built as a track machine and then over the y ears put to other use, hence the cheap pressed steel front brake, that was in all probabilty the one that came to hand first from the accessory box. I t's a very elegant machine , cheap brake or not.
Norris Lockley, Settle UK
Norris Lockley
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