American 'Maryland' Bike in France?

[Mercian]

Hi All,

A friend here in France recently came across a couple of rusty wrecks in a field. One of them has the headbadge (just!) of 'Maryland' so could be American in origin. This looks a bit like the 'Cleveland' badges I've seen, but perhaps it's something different.

Anyway, he'd like to know more (if possible). These are the only photos available, and I'm not 100% sure which photos relate to which of the two bikes. But here goes:

This isa plaquewith the owner's name, and a village in Puy-de-Dôme, France.

Thanks for the help (I appreciate it's a long shot).

Adrian

 

[stezell]

I agree with the comment on the Cleveland badge, very similar.

Sean

 

[blackcat]

Hello Adrian;
Sorry to disappoint you, these are French bikes

"CYCLES MARYLAND PARIS"


Catalogue cover from 1910
Regards;
Serge

 

[Mercian]

Hi Serge, @blackcat and thanks for the information.

I see they were based at 9 Rue Descombes Paris, which is now the Headquarters of France's National Rugby League.

Here's the 1911 catalogue (Credit Tonton Velo via Ebay).

These 1911 models still look earlier than the bicycle found, so I would guess a mid to late teens date?

Best Regards,

Adrian

 

[Mercian]

Hi Again,

Considering the similarity in badge to the Cleveland, I did a bit more digging. I can still find no direct link, except that Cleveland's were sold in Paris too. There was only 3 or 4 Km between their shops in central Paris, so they must have been aware of each other.

Poster by Paul Dupont, Paris 1898.

 

[dnc1]

Might be worth uploading the badge photo to Tontonvelo (if the owner hasn't already done so) so that it can be added to their excellent headbadge database; there are some other 'Maryland' examples shown, but this version looks a little different to those.