The Hirondelle (meaning "swallow" in english) was a one-of-a-kind bicycle sporting four speeds, two of which came from a primitive front derailleur, and two from pedalling forward or backward. The system was clever, involving two independent freewheels (large and small), and a single chain going from the top of the chainring to the top of the small cog, around the small cog, around an idler installed under the chainstay, back to the bottom of the large cog, around the large cog, and back to the bottom of the chainring.

When the rider pedalled forward, the chainring would pull on the small cog and engage its freewheel, while the large cog would freewheel in reverse. Conversely when the rider pedalled backward, the chainring would drive the large cog forward and let the small cog freewheel.

It is from an extremely RARE and very expensive portfolio of prints produced by a French bicycle and firearms company for their clients in 1909. PLEASE NOTE there is a tiny fox mark in the wheel spoke and a stain in the outer margin.

The print is high quality and single-sided (blank back). It has lovely curved corners and a gray edging around the picture. It has a tissue overlay on which a lengthy text (in French) describes letters of recommendations.

About the Manufacture Française d'Armes et CyclesCompany: In 1885, Pierre-Etienne Mimard and Pierre Blachon create Manufacture and invent the “trade catalogue” which consists in presenting the weapons marketed by the company and of the articles for hunter, in order to sell them by correspondence. They make transfer French Manufacture from weapons and cycles to the Fauriel course in 1894 in order to join together workshops and offices.

PLEASE NOTE there are minor stains and smudges in the margins (see scans). The page is approx. 7.25x11.25 inches and the actual image size (without margins) is approx. 4.5x7.5 inches, plus an inch of the gray edging.