Hirondelle, c.1925

Hirondelle, circa 1925

The company for the production of sporting weapons and bicycles was founded in Saint-Étienne, France in 1885.

The model with a unique "retro - direct" (reverse) transmission was first introduced in 1903.

The system was very commercially successful, in 1911 12,000 bicycles were produced.

The factory closed in 1940 due to the beginning of World War II.

Interesting fact - two different gears were achieved by the construction of two independent idle wheels, for a heavier gear it treads forward, for a lighter gear it is necessary to change the movement of the legs and start pedaling backwards!