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Peugeot Bicycle Manufacturing & Distribution History

Also see the Cycles Peugeot: Factories of the Group 1973 publication for an official early history of the companies.

1810 Peugeot Freres aines et Jacques Maillard-Salins company founded. Peugeot family mill converted to steel foundry for making tools.
1847 Peugeot's trademark lion designed for saw blades. The lion represents strength of teeth, flexibility of the blade (similar to the lion's backbone), and rapid cutting (similar to the lion's springing reflexes).
1857 Purchase of the Mill of Belieu, ancestor of the Cycles Peugeot, to produce spring steel for "crinolines" (hoopskirts).
1882 Beginning of the manufacture of the "Grand Bi" (a penny farther high wheeler) in Beaulieu.
1885 Beginning of the manufacture of the velocipedes: 300 people are employed in Beaulieu.
1886 The chain bicycle goes into mass production in Beaulieu.
1890 Under the trade name "Les Fils de Peugeot Freres" (the sons of the brothers Peugeot) beginning of the manufacture of the motorcycles and motocars.
1899 Trademark lion first appears on Peugeot bicycles. (some sources specify 1882)
1910 Creation of the Company "Cycles et Automobiles Peugeot."

1926
1927

Reorganization of the manufacturing units. "Cycles et Automobiles Peugeot" separated into two distinct and independent companies:
Societie des Automobiles Peugeot;
Societe des Cycles Peugeot which manufactures bicycles and motorcycles.

1940 Occupation period.
1944 Depression. Partial plundering of the workshops during German troops' departure.
1945 Renovation of the works after the occupation period.
1962 United Import Sales, Inc. becomes sole importer and distributor of Peugeot bicycles in the United States.
1963 Franklin Imports, Inc. becomes importer and distributor of Peugeot bicycles in the midwestern and eastern United States.
1965 Societie des Automobiles Peugeot becomes Peugeot S.A., a holding company controlling all companies in the group.
1972 Second Peugeot bicycle manufacturing facility built in Romilly-sur-Seine. Franklin Imports located in Ridgefield, NJ.
1974 Procycle Group, Inc. acquires Velo Sport, Inc. and distributes Peugeot bicycles in Canada.
1976 Cycles Peugeot (USA) Inc. established in January, 1976, with offices and warehouses in Gardena, CA (headquarters), Elmwood Park, NJ and Jacksonville, FL.
1978 Procycle signs an agreement with Peugeot France and obtains exclusive rights to manufacture and distribute Peugeot bicycles in Canada.
1978 Cycles Peugeot USA West Division is located in Compton, CA.
1980 Cycles Peugeot USA East Division is located in Carlstadt, NJ.
1982 Cycles Peugeot, S.A. and Procycle Inc. agree to merger to strengthen their U.S. bicycle market effort. Cycles Peugeot, S.A. becomes a 10% shareholder of Procycle capital (a subsidiary of Pro Velo). Pro Velo acquires 49% of Cycles Peugeot, USA and begins exporting Peugeot bicycles to the United States to supplement the imports from France. Roger and Raymond Dutil of Procycle, Inc. become adminstrators of Cycles Peugeot, USA.
1987 Cycles Peugeot merges with AOP (Aceir et Outillage Peugeot), the steel and tools division, to form ECIA (Equipements et Composants pour l'Iindustrie Automobile), the vehicle components division.
1990
1991
Peugeot withdraws from the United States market.
1992 Beistegui Hermanos (Spain) buys manufacturing licenses for Peugeot bicycles and other brands to create the Cycleurope Group.
1996 Beistegui Hermanos sells Cycleurope to Monark Stiga (Sweden).
1996 Grimaldi Group acquires Monarch Stiga and therefore Cycleurope.
2002 Peugeot family decides to withdraw its name from all products other than cars. Cycleurope phases out Peugeot line of bicycles.
2004 Cycleeurope's license for Peugeot bicycles expires.
2010 Theoretical 200 year anniversary of Peugeot bicycles. Cycleurope begins manufacturing Peugeot bicycles again under new license.

United Import Sales, Inc. & Franklin Imports, Inc.

United Import Sales, Inc. established in 1950 and located in Los Angeles, CA announced that it was the sole importer and distributor of Peugeot bicycles in January 1962. The company was founded and owned by Rudy and Nellie Seidler. Rudy immigrated to the United States from Austria as a result of World War II. After the war, through compensation and restitution he obtained exclusive rights to import Styer bicycles into the United States. Their son-in-law Mitch Weiner managed the company, and later left to start Western States Imports and develop the brands Centurion and Diamond Back.

In February 1963, Franklin Imports, Inc. located in Manhattan, New York announced that it was the importer and distributor of Peugeot Bicycles in the midwestern and eastern United States. The company was founded and owned by Ronald Krieger.

United Import Sales, Inc. announcement as sole importer and distributor of Peugeot Bicyles in the January 1962 issue of the American Bicyclist and Motorcyclist. Franklin Imports, Inc. announcement as distributor of Peugeot bicycles in the Midwestern and eastern United States in the February 1963 issue of the American Bicyclist and Motorcyclist. Original headquarters of Franklin Imports, Inc., 106 West 81st Street, New York, New York. Ron Krieger purchased the building in 1966 and sold it in 1979.  

By 1967 United Import Sales, Inc. had relocated to Gardena, CA. In 1973 Franklin Imports, Inc. relocated to Ridgefield, NJ. and then relocated again in 1974 to Elmwood Park, NJ.

Cycles Peugeot, U.S.A. was founded in January 1976 and became the sole distributor of Peugeot bicycles in the United States. Betrand Peugeot was the president of both the parent company and the U.S. division. Edouard de Truchis became general manager of Cycles Peugeot, U.S.A. and conducted business from the headquarters in Gardena, CA. Rudy Seidler retired in December 1976, Ron Krieger became the eastern division manager and conducted business from the office and warehouse in Elmwood, NJ, and Joe Morris supervised operations from the office and public warehousing in Jacksonville, FL.

Rudy Seidler's retirement announced in January 1977 issue of Bicycle Journal. Rudy Seidler at Bicycle Institute of America Convention in February 1964 issue of Bicycle Journal (top left panel, 3rd from left). Rudy Seidler at Bicycle Institute of America Convention in February 1964 issue of Bicycle Journal (bottom left panel, 1st from left). Ron Krieger at International Bike Show in April 1967 issue of Bicycle Journal (top left panel). New Peugeot Factory announced by advertisement in January 1973 issue of Bicycle Journal.
         
 
New Peugeot Factory article in January 1973 issue of Bicycle Journal. Rudy Seidler and Peugeot executives from France at National Bicycle Dealers Association convention in April 1973 issue of Bicycle Journal (right panel, 2nd from left). Ron Krieger at International Bicycle Show Convention in May 1973 issue of Bicycle Journal (bottom left panel, 1st from left). Rudy Seidler and Edouard de Truchis at National Bicycle Dealers Association West Conference in May 1976 issue of Bicycle Journal (2nd row from bottom, left panel).  

Acknowledgements

The webmaster would like to thank Ted Ernst and the late Howie Cohen for sharing their firsthand knowledge of United Import Sales, Inc. Ted founded and owned Ted's Manhattan Cycles from 1962 to 2006. He has many accomplisments in the cycling world and was inducted in 2006 for Contributor to U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame. Howie Cohen worked for his family's distributorship, West Coast Cycle and later established Everthing Bicycles {Collection} https://bikecitymag.com/remembering-howie-the-bike-man/.

References

Anonymous. 1996. Peugeot bikes acquired. Advertising Age's Euromarketing 8/6/96, Vol.  9 Issue 47, p4, 1/9p

Anonymous. 1982. Peugeot/Pro Velo in Pact Targeting U.S. Bicycle Product News, Vol. 1 Issue 12, p27.

Anonymous. 1976. Industry news: Rudy Seider, founder and former president of United Import Sales, is retiring. Bicycle Journal, January issue, p42.

Bike Europe (2001) Peugeot to disapper from French bike market. 20 Sept. 2001. http://www.bike-eu.com/Home/General/2001/9/Peugeot-To-Disappear-From-French-Bike-Market-BIK000706W/

Bike Europe (2002) Cycle Europe changes Peugeot for Puch branded bikes. 2 Sept. 2002. http://www.bike-eu.com/Home/General/2002/9/Cycleurope-Changes-Peugeot-for-Puch-Branded-Bikes-BIK000841W/

Bike Europe (2010) Peugeot with Cycleeurope back in bikes. 11 Jan. 2010. http://www.bike-eu.com/Home/General/2010/1/Peugeot-with-Cycleurope-Back-in-Bikes-BIK003812W/

Crenshaw, J. (2007) Procycle Transforms Its Business Model from Mass to Dealer. Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, 10698493, 10/1/2007, Vo. 16, Issue 16

Cycles Peugeot (1973) The factories of the group. LOOS Printing Company, Saint-Die, France, 53 pp.

Meyers, S.J. (1976) Closeup on a giant: World's only 2-wheel/4-wheel maker. American Bicyclist and Motorcyclist. Volume 98, No. 09 Setember

Peugeot http://www.peugeot.com/en/history/cycles/bicycles.aspx

Cycles Peugeot (1977) Structures of the group. LOOS Printing Company, Saint-Die, France, 72 pp.

Hilger, L. (2004) Peugeot et le cyclisme. editions saint-paul, Luxembourg. 191 pp.

Irish Times (2009) The mighty roar of the king of the jungle - and the road. 06/03/2009

New York Times (1991) Peugeot to pull out of market in the U.S. 7 Aug. 1991. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/07/business/worldbusiness/07iht-peug.html

The Globe and Mail (1978) Companies in the news Procycle. 12 Sept. 1978: B15.

Automobiles Peugeot (2010) Twenty years of excellence. Reference number: 10COBI606. 88 pp. Panoply

Peugeot http://www.peugeot.com/en/history/cycles/bicycles.aspx

Procycle Group, Inc. http://www.procycle.com/en/about_us.asp

Wiebe, M. (2010) Peugeot pushes two wheelers. Bicycle Retailer & Industry News. 3/1/2010, Vol.   19, Issue 3.

Last Updated 6 March 2024