[CR] AVA French handlebars and stems

(Example: Framebuilders)

Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2011 01:42:01 +0000
From: "Norris Lockley" <nlockley73@gmail.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR] AVA French handlebars and stems


As Jan has pointed out, AVA and MAVIC were one and the same company from the 30s through to the 50s and the company advertised this fact widely in the cycle industry Press. What I have been unable to discover is where the factory was based, but I assume that it would have been in the Lyon area where the original EMR company - maker of the AVA stems was originally based, but it certainly was not at either of MAVIC's central France sites at St Trivier or Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne to which the company moved in 1967.

It is probable that the split up of the original company might have taken place around the same time as MAVIC moved its HQ toSt Trivier and that it was the rim maker RIGIDA who bought out the AVA name which was a manufacturer of cheaper aluminium rims as well as stems and bars. The new AVA factory was based in NOYON which is NE of Paris. I believe that this factory has recently closed down after the parent company decided to move all its manufacturing base to China where it intends to expand production. A close friend of mine bought up a massive amount of stock from the warehouse as it was closing down. The loss of the company from France has been very much regretted by what is left of the French cycle manufacturing industry

The link between MAVIC and AVA lives on in the motifs of the two companies ie the company name captured within an elongated diamond. These are very noticeable on some of the stems produced in the 70s and early 80s.

As for the Ebay stem that resembles very closely a 1950s Cinelli, I wonder if this model was 'bought in' from a Paris-based manufacturer called E BOURGIGNON, some of whose very similar products I have found on various old bikes that I have..

As for the rest we can only surmise...and as for current MAVIC production (of wheels) I understand that they are being made in Roumania...and that there are serious issues with the quality.

Norris Lockley

Settle UK