A glimpse behind the doors of the Lemaître carrossier

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A few years ago we received communication from a collector of Veteran cars in France who has turned his attention to something rather puzzling: a collection of parts for an unknown make of car, which ought to resemble the main photoggraph.

We can determine that it was an assembled car, as it consists mainly of identifiable proprietary components. The engine, gearbox and carburettor are Benz items while the axles are by the Parisian firm Bail Pozzy et Cie. The body, meanwhile, is the work of Lemaître of Alençon, an old-established carrossier extant from the 1750s to the 1920s. It seems Lemaître decided to have a shot at building a car itself, as the wonderful photos of the car seems to be taken at the Atelier de Lemaître.

We have come across these wonderfully evocative photographs showing us what life was like behind the doors of Lemaître as the 20th century was dawning. It was a busy place, for sure, and obviously doing good, prosperous trade. We can see both carriages and primitive motor-car bodies but, despite the works embracing this latest transport technology, what stands out most is just how rustic the operation is. The twisted oak beams, vernacular stone walls and basic tools give no hint that the Industrial Revolution had occurred half a century ago. Oh, for simpler times... The photos come from the Lemaître family and we can also see Monsieur Lemaître behind the steering wheel of the car.

Words: Zack Stiling

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