M. Wallet (a good name for a bank manager or a pickpocket) penned this paean in praise of his Audouard eight speed derailleur system - a classy set up that involved a four speed cluster being shifted sideways, while a static derailleur managed the chain as it skipped from cog to cog.

His eight gear ratios ran from a développement of 2.42m (30 gear inches) to 6.96m (87 gear inches) - which is a pretty usable range.

Finally, He referred to the Audouard as being of the ‘genre Whippet’ and claims Paul de Vivie as his inspiration.

(Source gallica.bnf.fr/ Bibliothèque nationale de France)

• Publisher: T.C.F. Revue Mensuelle
• Country: France
• Date: March 1914
• Derailleur brands: Audouard, de Vivie, Whippet
• Derailleurs: Audouard