The top French cycle manufacturers made their own cycle frames and components, but were not keen to supply other makers to increase competition. In the late 1890s, French cycle shops sold British and American bicycles, and, by the turn of the century, the French cycle industry used BSA frames and fittings as an efficient way to build their own bicycles. Brown Brothers was the French license holder for BSA components. Usually machines built with BSA fittings were badged in the builder’s own name.
The example featured here is of historic interest because the headbadge includes both the maker’s name and address – ‘Oblin, 49 rue d’Amsterdam, Paris’ – and ‘pieces BSA’. It features a BSA name chainwheel (introduced in 1908) and a ‘Mark X’ Sturmey Archer three speed gear, which was a big hit (and heavily promoted) when it came out in 1910. BSA introduced their own factory-built bicycles for the 1910 season, primarily for the home market as BSA fittings sold much better abroad than in Britain. Within a few years, BSA’s new bicycle range started to make an impression in Europe too. Based on these facts, I’ve assumed this Oblin was built in 1910.
1910 Bicyclette ‘Oblin’
built from BSA ‘B’ Pattern Fittings
22″ Frame
28″ Wheels with wooden rims
Bowden Tourist brakes
BSA Rat-trap Pedals with toe clips
Wooden mudguards
Sturmey Archer ‘Mark X’ Three-speed Gear
(Now sold)
‘Cycles Oblin’ was a small French cycle builder who used top quality BSA fittings in their early machines. They also made commercial carrier tricycles – ‘tri-porteurs’. This rare surviving example of the marque is in top condition. When I purchased the Oblin, the rear wooden rim wasn’t usable, so I had it built into a better condition wooden rim of the correct vintage.
1909 BSA FITTINGS CATALOGUE
CYCLES OBLIN
41, rue Richelieu Paris & 49, rue d’Amsterdam, Paris
49, RUE’ D’AMSTERDAM, PARIS
(then and now)
TRI-PORTEUR OBLIN
41, rue Richelieu Paris & 49, rue d’Amsterdam, Paris
1910 STURMEY ARCHER ‘MARK X’ GEAR
