Velo-Velocar The Beginning in 1932

This seems to be the first presentation of the Mochet Recumbents, the 'Velo-Velocar' Source is http://www.velorizontal.com/hommage_mochet.htm

It is interesting to note, that straight from the start it was thought about a racing version and a touring version - proof the speed and sell the comfort! The steering is the early version with bevel gears. 

The above photo was published in Science et Monde on 27/10/1932. What is indeed remarkable is that the steering of the touring version has bevel gears while the racing version has already the later used simplified version (as in the patent). The long chain suggests there were no gears - so perhaps a model for the Velodrome?

A set of bevel gears where under a nice aluminium casing. The very first version with the angle on the bottom tube and a very short front fork.

The part to hold the steering column in place seems to unaltered from the start to the end of the 2-wheeled Mochet machines.

The most important progress in cycling since the Pneumatic. (Le plus important progres realise en cuclisme depuis le pneumatique.) No small claim here. This is from a sales brochure which already has all the later records listed therefore probably from the end of 1933. But equally important is the use of V.V. and Velo Velocar to distinguish the 2-wheeler as a separate profuct to the Velocar.

Please note: Mochet did not had any classifications as regards Serie 1, 2, 3 etc. he just built one after the other and improved them. The classification is done by our self based on machines we have seen!

Not only one of the earliest machines a racing model too! Typical for Serie 1 is a very short fork, the bevel gear for steering, the gear leaver pointing upwards and the bottom bracket behind the steering post.

Miss Evelyn Hailton shoing not only off her legs but the Mochet Velo-Velocar at the Lightweight Show in Autumn in London 1933 for the 'Cycling' magazine.

Another Serie 1 that probably spent all it's life in the UK, likely originally imported in 1933 for 'Cycling'.

Have you opened a new location, redesigned your shop, or added a new product or service? Don't keep it to yourself, let folks know.

Another fine example home in Britain. It has a few alteration to the seat which implies that this could be the machine that was ridden by Evelyn Hamilton.

Serie 1 (B) still with the bevel gear for the steering but now with a long fork which raises the frame and is much much better to ride/steer. In doing so the bottom bracket moves forward and upwards.

A very fine example at the Velorama Museum in the Netherlands. It should have balloon tires 450x55A.

The simple gear lever still points upwards. It is relatively difficult to change the gears as the gear lever moves in the same axis as you 'wobble' along. The later alteration is much easier to use and change gears.

A sightly incomplete example but it was a racing model! Now home in the Museum in Glasgow.

Because of the fixes angle of the bevel gears the steering column has a little compensator fitted.

The chainstays to the rear wheel are flat steel and the fork is bolted on to the main beam.

The Characterisation for the Series 2 is the new and simplified steering arrangement for which Mochet got a Patent granted.

The simplified steering together with 2 chain rings at the bottom bracket. You had to pre-select the gearing. You could only change the gears while riding on the intermediate shaft.

We differentiate the early Serie 2 (Hybrid) because it still has the rear fork of flat steel. The gear lever to change the gears under the seat now points leftwards. This change makes steering the machine and changing gears much much easier. A little up or down movement is simpler to perform than a left or right pretty much in the same direction as you steer along.

There a 2 Velo-Velocars known with the 'older' rear fork but the new steering arrangement - hence we separate them out as another small step towards the 'definite' version.

A press photo with Paul Morand who would ride road races for Mochet during the 1934 season. It still has the old rear fork. Steering is unfortunately blocked but knowing that Morand was hired for 1934 we conveniently will put this pic here.

Patent for Charles Mochet FR765263. Applied for on 8th December 1933, granted 19/03/1934 and published 05/06/1934. Charles Mochet died on 3rd June 1934 at the age of 54.

We would call it the 'definite' version. All the little tweaks and changes have led to a model that is now complete, easy to produce and it has survived in the largest number of all versions with virtually no changes for quite some time.

The rear fork is now tubular and the standard model now has a luggage rack instead of the (small) box - although models with the box could be ordered.

Four gears were available.

Clear lines and a simplified steering mechanism.

A racing version that was purchased from new in Germany and subsequently the same shop made a copy of the machine which was then shown and tested at the race track in Leipzig in 1934.

Michael's Machine before it got the original 450x55A tyres and fitting rims back.

Francis Faure rode the Velo-Velocar on the race track in 1933 and 1934. On 7th July 1933 Faure got the Hour Record with 45.055 km. The Hour Record was of course the most prestigious and brought subsequently the UCI (governing body) into action and effectively ruled out the recumbent bicycle in 1934 by changing the rules. In 1933 it was a VALID Record which only got retrospectively chalked off!!!

Francis Faure held the records for 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30,40 and 50 km (1:06:41,2). Most of the records were established while achieving the Hour Record. Only the 1 km was established separate as far as we are aware.

In Autumn 1933 and Spring 1934 Francis Faure was involved in various exhibition races on race tracks in France and competed against upright riders such es Lemoine.

Very little is known about the 'Supervelocar' in the Autumn of 1933. When I asked Georges Mochet in 2004 he was actually surprised that I found a photo with a verified date. He did not remember and thinks it got forgotten during a very busy 1934 in which Charles Mochet died and Georges had to take over. We only know of a couple of photographs and this press article from September 1933. Mochet got the 'ultimate' Hour Record together with Francis Faure finally in 1939 and in doing so Faure became the first man to have officially cycled unassisted more than 50 km in one hour.

Manuel Morand would cycle the Velo-Velocar in Road Races during the Saison of 1934. He achieved respectable averages for parts of the races but when it came towards the finish lines the 'bunch' would outwork the single rider. For all aspect sport and Velocar Arnfried Schmitz: Human Power: The Forgotten Energy is a must read!

Some of the races for which we have articles with a Velocar or 'Velocariste' are: Paris - Vichy June; Paris - Limoges August (Morand and Desage), Trois-Jours d'Auvergne September (Morand and Desage, Morand finished in the bunch [ex aequo] which came in on 6th position); Paris - Contres September 1934.

The Velorizontal was presented at the Salon du Cycle in Autum 1935 and was a cheaper version on the Velo-Velocar. Both models were available.

The whole machine was much simplified and had only a very long chain. The standard version had no gears but a derailleur was available.

The Velorizontal Serie 1 had no support from the hotizontal seat cushion to the rea wheel. From a couple of machines we have seen that this tend to break. Series 2 got that resolved.

We do not know when the extra strud at the rear came in. Mochet never changed the cliche for the adverts. They always shoing the 'Series 1' Velorizontal. Prices known from 595 Francs in 1935 (850 Francs for the cheapest Velo-Velocar and 990 with 3 gears) and from 670 Francs in 1937.

In the above photo you can clearly see the extra tubes from the seat to the rea axle in support of the seat cushions. Thats the Velorizontal Series 2 [As before Mochet had no Serie 1, 2 etc. - classification based on existing bicycles by u!s]

The Velorizontal with the 650 rear wheel is the machine that has survived in the largest numbers. But since numbers overall are very small it cannot be an indicator of the most sold machine. It was certainly accepted in the market.

Georges Mochet and Francis Faure in the workshop at the Mochet company.

Francis Faure became the first cyclist to ride without assistance more than 50 km in one hour with a total of 50.537 km. The first report is from 4th March 1939 in Paris-Soir and Le Petit Journal.

La Science et La Vie from July 1939. Since the UCI changed the rules in 1934 of what a 'bicycle' is Mochet dedicated a trophy to the Hour Record for any machine as long as it was human powered. The first record holder for many years was Marcel Berthet with his fully faired bicycle the Velodyne with 49.992 km in September 1933.

Another article from April 1939. As regards Berthet's record fom 1933: there is a valid argument that he very well might have beaten the 50 km in one hour but as it was officially registered at 49.992 there was not much he could do. Between Mochet and Berthet it seems to have been acknowledged that Berthet cracked the 50 km first. But as far as official records go it was Francis Faure.

Francis Faure came from Ambert. Ambert has a very unusual round town hall. 

Francis Faure run a bicycle shop in Ambert and sold branded bicycles and showing proudly his record on the head badge RECORDMAN du MONDE de l'HEURE 50-537 KM.

Together with a revised Velocar a new Velorizontal was presented in c. 1941. It now has same size wheels (450x55A) and a Cyclo derailleur. 

The front fork has much more rake than any of the other Mochet recumbents and it is by far the easiest to ride. This active development of an idea to get a fully working, comfortable and as-good-as-possible product sets Mochet apart in the early history of recumbents from any of his competitors. They came and went but it was Charles and Georges idea and they stuck with it.

VELORIZONTAL 'Licence Velocar'. A bit odd as the address for the Velorizontal was 68 rue fillol and for the Velo-Velocar 66. 

4-Speed derailleur as standard.

The left hand break lever is the same version that Mochet used on the early Velocars. 

The Velorizontal of c. 1941 is the final development of the Mochet recumbents until Georges Mochet returns to the HPV races in the early 1980s!