DISRAELI TRIVIA
Take a walk down Avenue Albert Raimond in Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, France. Albert Raimond established his factory making Le Cyclo derailleurs in the town in the 1920s. Saint-Priest-en-Jarez is part of the Saint-Étienne connurbation, and Albert Raimond was part of the group of friends (and rivals) based in and around Saint-Étienne who were instrumental in developing derailleur gearing.
Frank Berto recounts that, during the second world war, Albert Raimond “openly supported the French Resistance and he was imprisoned and maltreated by the Gestapo. He emerged sick and diminished by the ordeal”. The Cyclo company certainly never recovered its pre-war energy and prowess.
It is possible, however, that Albert Raimond was mayor of Saint-Priest-en-Jarez from 1945 to 1952, and that the street was named in his honour some time after this.
The full address is: Avenue Albert Raimond, 42270 Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, France.