Le CHEMINEAU

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.

Background info on the
Toton Velo web site HERE

Head badges HERE

David Lester’s web page dedicated to Le Chemineau HERE

Le Chemineau city bike

on eBay Sept. 2010

Le Chemineau touring

on eBay 2013