Twitchy22
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We bought an old house in France. This is the bike I found in our attic
Robert Mariotte, 1939. Is this for real? The metal collar was loosely tied on with wire... a false trail, maybe?
What looks like an original seat. Make or model "Nova"
She needs some work...
Maybe the frame has more info? Nope, at least not legible
Maybe some of you recognise the design on the front?
pallentx
nice. how bad is the rust?
Twitchy22
"Esbly" is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne ("S M") department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France
Twitchy22
Not far from us, which makes sense as I'm pretty sure Amazon Prime wasn't available pre-WW2
Twitchy22
We're in the east of Paris. The rust looks all-encompassing but I'll have a go tomorrow to see what I can remove without causing damage
Thelema
About #6, my best guess for the first word is "FABRICATION", the second one may be "GARANTIE" or "FRANCAISE". Either way, not the bike brand
Butmuncher
I bet it's older.
Thelema
Looking at the front, this seems like a "porteur" bike: https://janheine.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/the-porteurs-of-paris/ Used to carry stuff
Twitchy22
I have a feeling it could be dark green, which might be beautiful on this era bicycle
Twitchy22
Yep, dark green with light green pinstriping
Thelema
The "Robert Mariotte" looks like the mandatory registration plate for French bicycles. That would be the name of the owner, with his city.
Thelema
Update: until 1953, you had to pay a yearly tax to ride. So "1939" is the last year the owner *paid*. Source: http://plaque.free.fr/f_v.html
Thelema
Doesn't mean he stopped riding the bike, mind you. But it means the bike can be older than 1939.
Thelema
Until recently, you could get fined if your bicycle did not have this name plate.
Twitchy22
Genius! Thank you for finding this! How did you know?
Thelema
Source: I have been riding a bike in France for a long time.
Thelema
More information here: http://plaque.free.fr/f_v.html 1939 is the last year the owner paid the bike riding tax. Bike is older than that.
DarwinHasSpoken
Try to recreate all the decorations! There must be a resource somewhere you can get clean images from.
DarwinHasSpoken
I looked it up. I think this bike is extremely rare. You're going to want to take the very best high-res photos of those decals.
Twitchy22
I tried searching but couldn't find a "Robert Mariotte" make/model on Google. I'll clean it up a bit tomorrow and send more pics.
DarwinHasSpoken
Message me after you do. I'm curious.
yourmomscheese
Have a link?
DarwinHasSpoken
http://www.oldbike.eu/museum/bikes-1800s/1898-2/1898-marriott-hunter-29-roadster/
DarwinHasSpoken
That's kinda the problem. I couldn't find any bike manufacturers named "Albert Marriott" or Marriotti.
DarwinHasSpoken
There is a "John Marriott" in the UK.
Thelema
Sudden idea: is there something visible *under the nameplate*? That would be one place to put the bike brand.
Twitchy22
Sadly, no. If there ever was, and it doesn't seem like it, it was filed off ages ago
Thelema
I meant on the frame under the nameplate. Not sure I was clear here.
Twitchy22
I checked both. And the frame is clear, or at least too worn to show any kind of marking.
Thelema
You could ask the question on http://forum.tontonvelo.com
Twitchy22
I thought the frame ornamentation might give a clue but comparing it to 30s photos is tough...
Thelema
I think the front sprocket is the most recognizable part, now. Manufacturers had custom sprocket. Yours could be a pointer.
Thelema
Yes, it looks a bit like a Cazenave bike. http://velocazenave.canalblog.com but there were dozens of manufacturers at the time.
Twitchy22
Thanks again! That blog looks interesting too