Le CHEMINEAU
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St Etienne, Loire, France
Circa 1911 ~ late 1950s.
Updated 1.22.2014
“Le Chemineau” is an antiquated word meaning wanderer or vagrant. Interestingly, not unlike the meaning for another French bicycle brand, “Gitane.” Company founder, Joanny Panel and Claudius Bouillier established a patent on their derailleur mechanism in 1912, and were early proponents of derailleur use in bicycles.