Re: [CR] French Velo Wonder St Etienne bicycle on Ebay Item number: 190491197548 from 1920's?

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References: <531727.82545.qm@web39307.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:06:27 -0800 (PST)
From: "devon warner" <crabulux@yahoo.com>
To: andrew israel <drewski_30312@yahoo.com>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
In-Reply-To: <531727.82545.qm@web39307.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [CR] French Velo Wonder St Etienne bicycle on Ebay Item number: 190491197548 from 1920's?


well, you are fascinated because it is so tres jolie! my french is pretty terrible but i think he is trying to tell us that the handle bars are made of two adjustable pieces, which we can see in the photos and that the rear hub has a fixed and free wheel cog, which we cannot see, and of course he is mentioning the inch pitch drive train without a chain, describing the valve covers attached to the spokes with a little chain, (that is pretty oddly amusing.) also that the number of employees, amount of bikes and cars the factory made, when it was established, uh, who knows where this information is coming from, but i certainly can't argue with it.
   this is a pretty interesting find, thanks for posting it.devon warner san francisco, CA USA


----- Original Message ----
From: andrew israel
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Sent: Thu, January 20, 2011 3:39:27 PM
Subject: [CR] French Velo Wonder St Etienne bicycle on Ebay Item number:


190491197548 from 1920's?

Noticed a interesting older bicycle described as a Jules Ravat Wonder 1920 era on Ebay. I can read some French. I tried to use Yahoo Bable fish the translation

and the translation came out with a bunch of drivel. I can't even explain why this bike appeals to me, but it does. The bike is nearly a century old and it looks like a solid frame geometry. 

The seat is interesting to me as well.

http://ebay.com/<blah>

Description:

are vélo de marque WONDER, fabrication RAVAT à St Etienne Wonder est une marque Française, et non pas une marque Anglaise...... type course du début du XX ième siècle Guidon à branches repliables ou réglables, accessoire "Manufrance des années 20" deux pignons sur le moyeu arrière un fixe l'autre avec roue libre pignons et plateau au pas de 1" (pouce) sans chaîne, une chaine actuelle au pas de 1/2" passe les chapeaux de valve, spécifiques, sont attachés avec des chainettes pour ne pas les perdre C'est en 1898 que Jules Ravat fonde son entreprise, en 1925 c'est 80000 machines

(velos et motos) qui sortent annuellement de ses usines de 20000m2 où 1200 ouvriers sont employés.