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Gladiator Cycle Company

The Gladiator Cycle Company, Clément-Gladiator (from 1896), was a French manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles and cars based in Le Pré-Saint-Gervais, Seine.

Gladiator Double Phaeton of 1907, 2 cylinder, 2,423 cc, 12 PS, 45 km/h, at Cité de l'Automobile – Musée National – Collection Schlumpf, Mulhouse, France

Throughout its productive life from 1891 until its demise in 1920 the company was variously owned by: the founders Alexandre Darracq and Paul Aucoq; from 1896 by a London public listed company Clément, Gladiator & Humber renamed in 1901 Société Française des Cycles Clément & Gladiator and from 1906 by 'Vinot et Deguingand'.[1][2]

Cycle manufacture edit

 
Poster by Gaston Noury
 
Poster printed by Georges Massias

Gladiator cycles edit

The cycle manufacturer was founded at Le Pré-Saint-Gervais, Seine north east of Paris by Alexandre Darracq and Paul Aucoq in 1891.[2][3]

In 1891, the English cycle maker, Thomas Pullinger, was asked to visit Gladiator on behalf of Humber Cycles to discuss a potential partnership. This did not materialise.

Clément-Gladiator cycles edit

In 1896 Adolphe Clément who held the extremely profitable manufacturing rights for Dunlop tyres in France joined with a syndicate led by Dunlop's founder Harvey Du Cros to buy out the Gladiator Cycle Company and they merged it into a major bicycle manufacturing conglomerate of Clément, Gladiator & Humber & Co Limited.[2] The range of cycles was expanded with tricycles, quadricycles, and in 1902 a motorised bicycle, then cars and motorcycles.[4]

Motorised cycle manufacture edit

Clément and Gladiator edit

From 1895 Clément cycles also started to focus on motorized vehicles. In 1902 they offered a motorized bicycle with a 142 cc engine that had an automatic inlet valve, an overhead exhaust valve and an external flywheel. The combined oil and petrol tank was behind the saddle and the batteries were stored in a leather case strapped to the horizontal frame tube. This 'motorisation adaptation' was sold on both Clément and Gladiator cycles.[4] In Britain these popular motorised cycles were known as Clément-Garrards.[4]

Motor manufacturing edit

 
Dorothy Levitt and the 12 hp Gladiator car she drove in a series of reliability trials in 1903

Clément-Gladiator motorcars edit

After the 1896 takeover the range was expanded and in 1902 a motorised bicycle lead to cars and motorcycles.(See Clément Gladiator cycles above for further details)[2][5][4]

From 1901 Clément-Gladiator cars were built at the Levallois-Perret factory and by 1902 production was over 1,000 cars per annum, 800+ of which were sold in England. Some of these cars were equipped with engines manufactured nearby in Saint-Denis Paris by Aster in single, twin or four cylinder configurations.[3]

The company was divided in 1903, Charles Chetwynd-Talbot running Clément-Talbot Ltd with Adolphe Clément as a significant shareholder. Clément renamed the French branch Clément-Gladiator and also formed Clément-Bayard.

After 1903 the Clément-Gladiator name continued to be used on the shaft-drive cars made at the Pre-Saint-Gervais factory, whilst chain-driven vehicles were marketed as Gladiators.[3] The Clément name was dropped in 1907 and in 1909 another French manufacturer, Vinot et Deguingand, took over Gladiator and transferred production to Puteaux. At this time the Pre-Saint-Gervais factory reverted to making bicycles.[3]

In 1909 Gladiator was bought by Vinot et Deguingand, who transferred production to their factory at Puteaux. The Pré St Gervais works continued to make bicycles. The production of the 1908 12hp model P or PS, was transferred in 1909 to the Vinot Deguingand factory in Puteaux. From then the P model was also available as a Vinot Deguingand and stayed in production until 1910. It was the last Gladiator designed car as Vinot Deguingand took over.

The Gladiator name was dropped from the cars in 1920.[2]

Wartime Production edit

During the First World War the Le Pré-Saint-Gervais Gladiator factory produced arms from 1915, and was the principal producer of the Chauchat machine rifle. The general manager, Paul Ribeyrolles, was involved in the design of the Chauchat and other French small-arms during the war.

Gallery edit

See also edit

  • For other cycle, motor-cycle, motor-car, aeroplane and airship companies associated with French industrialist Adolphe Clément-Bayard, see Clement (disambiguation)

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ Hydro Retro, Clement-Bayard, pdf (French) Clément-Bayard, sans peur et sans reproche par Gérard Hartmann
  2. ^ a b c d e Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
  3. ^ a b c d Brighton Early, Gladiator Cycles 2009-09-12 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ a b c d Yesterdays, Antique motorcycles, Auguste Clement 2012-02-20 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit

  • Posters of Gladiator-Bicycles
  • Gladiator 2-seater car, 1907

gladiator, cycle, company, clément, gladiator, from, 1896, french, manufacturer, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, based, pré, saint, gervais, seine, gladiator, double, phaeton, 1907, cylinder, cité, automobile, musée, national, collection, schlumpf, mulhouse, fran. The Gladiator Cycle Company Clement Gladiator from 1896 was a French manufacturer of bicycles motorcycles and cars based in Le Pre Saint Gervais Seine Gladiator Double Phaeton of 1907 2 cylinder 2 423 cc 12 PS 45 km h at Cite de l Automobile Musee National Collection Schlumpf Mulhouse FranceThroughout its productive life from 1891 until its demise in 1920 the company was variously owned by the founders Alexandre Darracq and Paul Aucoq from 1896 by a London public listed company Clement Gladiator amp Humber renamed in 1901 Societe Francaise des Cycles Clement amp Gladiator and from 1906 by Vinot et Deguingand 1 2 Contents 1 Cycle manufacture 1 1 Gladiator cycles 1 2 Clement Gladiator cycles 2 Motorised cycle manufacture 2 1 Clement and Gladiator 3 Motor manufacturing 3 1 Clement Gladiator motorcars 4 Wartime Production 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksCycle manufacture edit nbsp Poster by Gaston Noury nbsp Poster printed by Georges MassiasGladiator cycles edit The cycle manufacturer was founded at Le Pre Saint Gervais Seine north east of Paris by Alexandre Darracq and Paul Aucoq in 1891 2 3 In 1891 the English cycle maker Thomas Pullinger was asked to visit Gladiator on behalf of Humber Cycles to discuss a potential partnership This did not materialise Clement Gladiator cycles edit In 1896 Adolphe Clement who held the extremely profitable manufacturing rights for Dunlop tyres in France joined with a syndicate led by Dunlop s founder Harvey Du Cros to buy out the Gladiator Cycle Company and they merged it into a major bicycle manufacturing conglomerate of Clement Gladiator amp Humber amp Co Limited 2 The range of cycles was expanded with tricycles quadricycles and in 1902 a motorised bicycle then cars and motorcycles 4 Motorised cycle manufacture editClement and Gladiator edit From 1895 Clement cycles also started to focus on motorized vehicles In 1902 they offered a motorized bicycle with a 142 cc engine that had an automatic inlet valve an overhead exhaust valve and an external flywheel The combined oil and petrol tank was behind the saddle and the batteries were stored in a leather case strapped to the horizontal frame tube This motorisation adaptation was sold on both Clement and Gladiator cycles 4 In Britain these popular motorised cycles were known as Clement Garrards 4 Motor manufacturing edit nbsp Dorothy Levitt and the 12 hp Gladiator car she drove in a series of reliability trials in 1903Clement Gladiator motorcars edit After the 1896 takeover the range was expanded and in 1902 a motorised bicycle lead to cars and motorcycles See Clement Gladiator cycles above for further details 2 5 4 From 1901 Clement Gladiator cars were built at the Levallois Perret factory and by 1902 production was over 1 000 cars per annum 800 of which were sold in England Some of these cars were equipped with engines manufactured nearby in Saint Denis Paris by Aster in single twin or four cylinder configurations 3 The company was divided in 1903 Charles Chetwynd Talbot running Clement Talbot Ltd with Adolphe Clement as a significant shareholder Clement renamed the French branch Clement Gladiator and also formed Clement Bayard After 1903 the Clement Gladiator name continued to be used on the shaft drive cars made at the Pre Saint Gervais factory whilst chain driven vehicles were marketed as Gladiators 3 The Clement name was dropped in 1907 and in 1909 another French manufacturer Vinot et Deguingand took over Gladiator and transferred production to Puteaux At this time the Pre Saint Gervais factory reverted to making bicycles 3 In 1909 Gladiator was bought by Vinot et Deguingand who transferred production to their factory at Puteaux The Pre St Gervais works continued to make bicycles The production of the 1908 12hp model P or PS was transferred in 1909 to the Vinot Deguingand factory in Puteaux From then the P model was also available as a Vinot Deguingand and stayed in production until 1910 It was the last Gladiator designed car as Vinot Deguingand took over The Gladiator name was dropped from the cars in 1920 2 Wartime Production editDuring the First World War the Le Pre Saint Gervais Gladiator factory produced arms from 1915 and was the principal producer of the Chauchat machine rifle The general manager Paul Ribeyrolles was involved in the design of the Chauchat and other French small arms during the war Gallery edit nbsp Lisette and Eteogella on Gladiator bicycles with Simpson lever chains in 1896 nbsp Gladiator 3 1 2HP Phaeton from 1899 nbsp Gladiator 3 1 2HP Phaeton from 1899 nbsp Gladiator 6 1 2HP Tonneau from 1900 nbsp Gladiator 6 1 2HP Two seater from 1901 nbsp Gladiator 10HP Tonneau from 1902 nbsp Gladiator 10HP Tonneau from 1903 nbsp Gladiator 10HP Rear entrance tonneau from 1903 nbsp Gladiator 10HP Tonneau 347 from 1903 and Renault 10 12 HP Tonneau 355 from 1903 nbsp Gladiator 14 HP Demi limousine from 1904 nbsp Gladiator type P 1910See also editFor other cycle motor cycle motor car aeroplane and airship companies associated with French industrialist Adolphe Clement Bayard see Clement disambiguation Notes editReferences edit Hydro Retro Clement Bayard pdf French Clement Bayard sans peur et sans reproche par Gerard Hartmann a b c d e Georgano N 2000 Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile London HMSO ISBN 1 57958 293 1 a b c d Brighton Early Gladiator Cycles Archived 2009 09 12 at the Wayback Machine a b c d Yesterdays Antique motorcycles Auguste Clement Archived 2012 02 20 at the Wayback Machine James J Flink The Automobile Age Cambridge MIT Press 1988 p 21 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gladiator Posters of Gladiator Bicycles Gladiator 2 seater car 1907 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gladiator Cycle Company amp oldid 1141070129, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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