Terrot bicycles and motorbikes

These are just a few of the posters issued by Terrot, a bicycle and motorcycle manufacturer in Dijon, France, from 1890 to 1961.

Back in 1862, Charles Terrot and Wilhelm Stücklen had founded a machinery factory in Cannstatt, Germany, and Terrot added a branch factory in Dijon in 1887. In 1890 the Dijon factory added bicycles to its products. In 1902 the Dijon factory made its first motorcycle, powered by a 2 bhp engine supplied by Zédel of Switzerland. Thereafter Terrot built motorcycles with engines from 173cc to 498cc from proprietary engine suppliers including the Swiss manufacturers MAG and Dufeaux, and the English makers Chater-Lea, Givaudan and JAP.

Terrot produced its first twin-cylinder model in 1905, and from 1915 it supplied 500cc machines to the French Army. In 1921 Terrot launched new two-stroke models: the 175cc model L and 267cc model E. In 1925 the latter model was developed into the 250cc model F. From 1923 Terrot also produced four-stroke models, firstly with a 350cc JAP engine and from 1927 also with a 500cc engine. From 1926 Terrot started making its own 4-stroke engines and in 1929 the company produced its 100,000th motorcycle.

After the Depression a new class, motorized bicycles, was launched. In 1932 Terrot entered motorcycle racing and won a triple championship, winning the French 250cc, 350cc and 500cc classes. In WW2 Terrot supplied the French Army with sidecar outfits, the model GT from 350cc to 750cc and the model DT from 500cc to 750cc.

In 1951 Terrot made its first motor scooter, and in the 1950s the company concentrated on the market for mopeds and lightweight motorcycles. In 1958 Peugeot took over the company and in 1961 production at the former Terrot factory was terminated.

One notes the French spelling of Motocycle, without the r, which is often abbreviated to just Moto.