Re: [CR] 1940 Chaminade

(Example: Humor:John Pergolizzi)

From: "jaouen BAZIN" <jaouenbazin@free.fr>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 16:06:42 +0100
In-Reply-To: <W759811148282151257776864@webmail27>
Subject: Re: [CR] 1940 Chaminade


Hello Bob, French cycling industrie was not disturbed during the WWII, for 3 raisons:

Petain negociated with german army to not destroy french industrie Cycling industrie have lot of stock (this point stay durably in french way of life... stock every thing) and no metal restriction for cycling industrie stil 1943. German army asked for 300.000 bicycles

Just goverment move to vichy, and lot of people moved was the exode... sade history. P.Caminade stay in Paris, the only worry was the caminade numbered, they are some contradiction with number and date code.

Jaouen BAZIN Wissous, France

Didn't notice this pop up on the list, but what appear to be a very nice example with mostly original parts is on UK ebay: item no. 230397226224

A ladies touring model. Seller's comments place it as a September 1940 model (serial stamp 9-40). Placing that in history ... Adolf had visited Paris; Goering was peering through binoculars at Dover from Calais; and Churchill's "Few" were doing their level best to keep him there (in fact, by Sept. AH had moved the invasion plans several times and by the end of the month canceled it - and the RAF had succeeded).

Where were the Chaminade's made? Vichy France? Or is this a very lucky survivor of metal dealers?

Bob Hillery Stratham, New Hampshire, USA (ps. - Q for our UK cousins ... wasn't a Raleigh plant in the South - Portsmouth? - destroyed by the Luftwaffe about then? The history and use of bike during the war is fascinating)