The Monet & Goyon company was founded in 1916, during the Great War. Joseph Monet was an engineer and Adrien Goyon put up the finance, and they collaborated in order to make invalid carriages for the many injured French soldiers. Formally established on 2nd April, 1917, Monet & Goyon was the only French enterprise at that time building invalid carriages, which were called ‘Fauteuil’ (above) and ‘Velocimane’ (below). As you can see from the advert below, they also tried to promote the Velocimane for ‘sport and tourism.’ I assume that as it was still a novelty at its inception, there was not any stigma attached to riding an invalid carriage if you were not injured.
By 1919 they had contracted with the Wall Autowheel company in Great Britain to fit these engine attachments to their tricycles in order to provide a motorised version. This was the precursor of the famous Villiers-powered Monet & Goyon ‘Automouche’ motorised tricycle of the 1920s and their ‘Velauto’ two-wheeled version.
1922 Monet & Goyon VELOCIMANE Invalid Tricycle
‘Velo-Fauteuil Type G1’
20″ Wheels (500/B x 38)
Owners plaque: Mlle J. Lallement, Voillecomte
(now sold)
The VELOCIMANE tricycle was Monet Goyon’s trademark design throughout the 1920s. This example was advertised as a ‘Mixte’ i.e. designed for both men and women and, according to the owner’s plaque fitted above the head badge, this machine was owned by Miss J Lallement of Voillecomte.
When used by invalids, the tricycles were custom built to the rider’s requirements. This example was fitted with a spring on one pedal so that only the left pedal turned the wheel, so the assumption is that the rider’s right leg was inoperative.
The spring could be removed so that the tricycle could revert to normal usage. This allowed the company to make tricycles that were suitable for both ordinary and specialised use. There is not much documentation available for these early models; you can see that this 1922 example is similar to the 1921 illustration above of the first model, Type G1, except that it incorporates the company’s innovative cable-operated hub brake. The hub brake was apparently fitted to the first models of 1917, making it probably the first hub-brake to be put onto the market.
The tricycle itself is in excellent condition. The tyres are new, and the condition of the wicker seat suggests that it is also a replacement item, otherwise everything appears to be in good original order. It is wonderful that this historic machine has been preserved so that we can see, over ninety years later, an example of the type of transportation that was provided for the many wounded World War One veterans.
TRANSLATED TEXT: 1922 Monet & Goyon VELO-FAUTEUIL type “G1”
These are models that appeared in 1922 .
Commercial characteristics of VELO-FAUTEUIL “G1” :
Three wheels; Two rear wheels and a directional front wheel
Brake on the front wheel with control on the handlebars
Crank with transmission chain on the left rear wheel (avoiding differential )
Front suspension by opposing springs in the steering column
Tubular frame
Wicker chair with cushion
Lightweight and comfortable and perfect for the ladies
Without pedaling effort, and support points transferred to the rear seat backrest –
Note: The bike – chair is suitable for everyone and especially people unable to hold their balance on a bike
Options VELO- chair kind “G1 ”
Price VELO- chair : 890,00 Fr.
(with thanks to the Monet-Goyon Club – ‘Historique MG’)
MONET & GOYON TRICYCLES
I’ve not managed to find a catalogue illustration of this exact model, but the MG Club has provided some pictures of the other models…
The MG Club does not know when the above version was manufactured. I assumed that it would have taken the company a few years to establish full production after WW1, but the Velocimane Mixte Modele K, below, was apparently advertised in 1917, and made through the 1920s.
The 1921 MG Velo-Fauteuil Type G1, below, is pedal-controlled, whereas many of the Velocimane models were hand-powered.
The 1921 Monet Goyon Velocimane Type A, below, is powered by hand pedals, so could also be used as an invalid tricycle. (The advert at the top of the page is for this model).
And here is an advert for the motorised version, the the Automouche 2 CV, which was recommended in particular for ladies – ‘La Moto Speciale Dame.’
The two-wheeled ‘Velauto’ – introduced in 1921 and seen above and below – is a unique style in that it retains the bodywork of the Automouche motorised tricycle. It was France’s first ‘motor scooter.’ This new style of open-frame machine had already become popular in Great Britain.
Monet & Goyon info with thanks to – http://www.monet-goyon.net/TricyclesAVG.html
