Landry et Beyroux «Type 2»

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Located in Paris, the company Societe Justin Landry et G.Beyroux started the production of gas and petrol engines in 1889. The first two patents for its developments the owners received in 1894 (1,2). Co-author of at least one of them was the Marquis Renaud de Montaignaq, who together with Messrs Landry and Beyroux a four-cylinder engine created with a capacity of 7.5 hp(1).

In 1894, this car took place in the "Paris-Rouen" car race as number 87. Unfortunately, they did not take part in the competition, as they do not qualify(3). Any other information about him and his future have not yet been found.

The next car Landry et Beyroux build proved to be more successful. A mention of it for the first time in 1896, when he took part in the race "Paris-Marseille-Paris" as number 26. The horseless carriage drove over one thousand kilometres in the race. But the wheels got badly damaged and came off near Dijon(4,5). The car was equipped with a large-sized single-cylinder vertical 4 hp engine (according to other sources 5 hp), with a water-cooled electric ignition(6). This engine could be dismantled from the car and used as a stationary motor. A transmission with three-speed gearing and a top speed of 30 km/h. The history of the company was published in magazine La Locomotion automobile of 3 March 1898. This specific car was called the first(7). It is obvious for marketing reasons, they did not mention the failed model from 1894.

In October 1897 Marquis de Montagnaq became co-owner of the company Societe Justin Landry et G.Beyroux, received in connection with a new name - Société des Moteurs et Automobiles M.L.B.(8). Marquis contribution to the new company consisted of additional capital and the production of the hydraulic factory in Hondouville (Eure)(7). By March 1898 the number of employees of Société des Moteurs et Automobiles M.L.B. increased again. The name of the company changed to advertising figures(9,10), subjects remained the same.

On the 1st of May 1898, the Marquis de Montagnaq got involved in an accident in the race Périgueux-Bergerac-Périgueux and unfortunately dies(11). Société des Moteurs et Automobiles M.L.B. ceases to exist on the 25th of October 1898(12). Later in the story, I use the former name Societe Justin Landry et G.Beyroux for the company(13).

The photograph of the unique elegant car Landry et Beyroux «Type 2» from 1895, survived to this day (on the nameplate unknown year)(14,15). The expert, who dated the year 1895 as he could argue quite logically: "we know that in 1894 there was the first car, and in 1896 they presented to the public a different model as in the photo, the "Type 2 ". Which is not similar to the model from 1896, probably in front of us we see a model of 1895."

When I saw the photos of this car, this raised questions. If in 1895 the firm had a compact 4 hp motor, why the models 1896-1898, with two times the size but with almost the same power? The Cargold company kindly provided me with a photograph of a car factory signs(16), in which we see a place of production - Hondouville (Eure), a manufacturer of Landry et Beyroux, instead M.L.B..

Thus, we can draw the following conclusions:

1. This beautiful "Type 2" shown in the photograph could not be released at the plant Hondouville (Eure) in 1895, as the plant is not yet owned by the company Societe Justin Landry et G.Beyroux.

2. The inscriptions Hondouville (Eure) and Landry et Beyroux, instead of Hondouville (Eure) and M.L.B. say that the car is released after the death of the Marquis de Montagnaq, and after the renaming of the company October 25, 1898.

3. The magazine La Locomotion automobile from 3 March 1898. Landry et Beyroux model in 1896 called the company's first car ("Type 1"), it is logical to assume that the next was to be called "Type 2".

4. Motor 4 hp car "Type 2" was twice smaller than the "Type 1", which is also logical.

Maybe I'm wrong. I will be glad to hear the arguments in favour of a different version.

Words by Vasily Shishka, Automobile historian from Russia. Author of two-volume Encyclopedia of French cars of the 19th century.

The author is grateful for their assistance in preparing this article Laurent Zoller, Dmitry Lisin.

The figures in brackets refer to the serial number of the illustrations files.

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