DISRAELI GEARS
BGA is the brand of Établissements Blanchard-Grange, a manufacturer of guns, bicycles and mopeds based in St-Étienne.
The business was possibly established by Claudius Blanchard and a Monsieur Grange in 1900. In 1935 Claudius Blanchard developed, and patented, the BGA Velectrik derailleur. In the 1950s he diversified into mopeds and in 1958 he died and his son Claude Denis Blanchard took over the business.
In 1976 the company was called Blanchard et Cie when it re-registered ‘BGA’ as a trademark. Finally there is apparently an even more recent record that in 1984 the business was managed by one Jean Michel Barrière and employed 10 people making bicycles.
see also Le Cycliste 12/1932 - BGA ad
see also Le Cycliste 12/1932 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 02/08/1933 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 02/08/1933 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 01/08/1934 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 01/08/1934 - BGA ad
see also French Patent # 785,015 - BGA 1935
see also French Patent # 785,015 - BGA 1935
see also Le Forez Sportif 01/05/1935 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 01/05/1935 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 31/07/1935 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 31/07/1935 - BGA ad
BGA - advertising card 1935?
BGA - advertising card 1935?
see also Le Forez Sportif 12/08/1936 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 12/08/1936 - BGA ad
see also French Patent # 785,015 Addition # 47,985 - BGA 1937
see also French Patent # 785,015 Addition # 47,985 - BGA 1937
see also La Pédale Touristique 03/11/1937 - BGA ad
see also La Pédale Touristique 03/11/1937 - BGA ad
see also Cyclotourisme 04/1938 - BGA ad
see also Cyclotourisme 04/1938 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 29/06/1938 - BGA ad
see also Le Forez Sportif 29/06/1938 - BGA ad
see also L'Officiel A.C.M. 14/08/1938 - Le dérailleur "Velectrik" sans câble
see also L'Officiel A.C.M. 14/08/1938 - Le dérailleur "Velectrik" sans câble
see also Cyclo - Origine du dérailleur 1959
see also Cyclo - Origine du dérailleur 1959
see also French Trademark # 956,454 - BGA 1976
see also French Trademark # 956,454 - BGA 1976
see also New Cycling 05/1981 - '81 Derailleur Collection
see also New Cycling 05/1981 - '81 Derailleur Collection