Clement 1900

Description

This post is also available in: Italiano

Races, records, construction of the first bicycle in 1886, expansion of the factories, construction of a magnificent velodrome in Levallois, prestigious victories when Clément bicycles won the 580 km from Bordeaux to Paris in 1892 in 25 hours and 35 minutes! These successes are thanks to its inventor, a man with a particularly entrepreneurial spirit. Adolphe Clément, born in 1855, became interested in mechanics very early. Leaving for the streets of France at the age of 16 to do his apprenticeship. This apprentice blacksmith has an obsession: buying a bicycle. He works tirelessly, saves and builds his own bicycle, but it’s not enough for him. With his savings he launched himself into the production of his own brand of bicycles in 1877. It was in 1889 that he had the idea of introducing tires to France, purchasing the Dunlop license. In 1896 he purchased Gladiator and the French subsidiary Humber with the desire to merge the Adolphe Clément, Gladiator and Humber cycles into Clédiaber, but this did not happen. His innate business acumen has allowed him to reap the benefits of a rapidly expanding industrial sector, in the bicycle, automobile and above all tire sectors. At the beginning of the 20th century Clément bicycles were the most prestigious, supported by successful advertising campaigns. The bicycle and automobile company was sold to Citroën in 1922. Adolphe Clément died suddenly in 1928. Adolphe Clément-Bayard was one of the greatest French industrialists, he produced bicycles, imported cars and built airships.