French Racing Bicycles

[Canuk]

CMP (Lyon) bicycles and components

CMP
Precision Mechanical Constructions (CMP)
34-44, rue Sainte Anne de Baraban, LYON.

On December 16, 1945, the Bulletin des Soilles, "Company News," announced the formation of:

S.A.R.L. PRECISION MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTIONS,

ESTABLISSEMENTS CMP,
34, rue Sainte-Anne-de-Baraban, 69003 LYON.

Purpose: Operation of an industrial and commercial establishment for the manufacture and sale of all precision mechanical objects, particularly all textile machinery.

Capital: 1,230,000 francs.

 

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The first generation of CMP frames has specific fittings such as the split seat tube fitting. The frame below is number 001110, sold for MERCIER.

 

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CMP innovated in so many areas of cycle production and components, but they were instrumental in the very first versions of anodised frame tubes. Note the fork end, glued and bolted construction. Not very unlike the 1935 Caminargent system (without the glue!)

 

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With the same principle, an anodized finish for the tubes and a shiny finish for the fittings, frames were first marketed with the CMP brand. Here is a copy marked at the top of the down tube: CMP . 017 . T4 . SIE . BN . 03 76 – So manufactured in March 1976.

 

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Some press advertising from the 'Official Cycle' of April 1979.

 

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A fairly sexist advert from 1979.

 

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The first CMP Dural actually went on sale in 1975, and was later taken up by Mercier for mass distribution. It should be noted that this was almost 3 years before Vitus got in on the act and produced the first Duralumin 979.

 

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This is the CMP ultra-rigid brake system. All plastic and stainless steel construction, it was attached to the frame at 3 points front and rear. Never seen one in the wild though

 

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Paul Charrel tandem

 

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Paul CHARREL
151 avenue Berthelot, 69000 LYON

It is impossible to talk about CHARREL (Paul Charrel) without comparing him to REYHAND (André Reiss), especially since they were on the same avenue. While André Reiss's fate reduced their competition to a few years, both reached the highest level of quality ever known in Lyon.

They can be described as the "Grand Masters of Lyon Cycling." The editor of the magazine "Le Cycliste" wrote in 1946 that André Reiss had not been replaced.

Innovation was key to his success and he patented several brake designs. Note the 3 brake lever set up on the tandem.