French lessons for an English family

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Many of our French readers will, we suspect, be pouring themselves a glass of wine or several today to honour the Fête nationale française. Certainly, France has produced much to celebrate in the way of industry and culture, not least of which is the part she played in the early years of motoring. Apart from Germany, no other European nation embraced automobilism with quite the same enthusiasm, or did as much to advance the development of the horseless carriage. Messieurs Bollée, de Dion, Bouton, Panhard, Levassor, Mors, Peugeot, Renault et al., not to mention certain clubs and journals, well deserve to have their names prominently embroidered on the tapestry of French history.

The characters in this photograph are, we believe, the servants of an English family, but we feel it is a suitable picture for 14th July because it's a French product which is giving them an education about the construction and workings of a motor-car. If this car, a Panhard et Levassor, was the family's first horseless carriage, they must have marvelled at the size and puissance of the separate cylinders and the great drive-chain. We can't quite be sure about whether or not it's early enough to have hot-tube ignition, but if it is then it would have been quite a treat for them to gather round and observe the fiery spectacle. As for the servants, life may sometimes have been tough for them, but if they got to play around with big Panhards then it can't have been without its pleasures.

Unfortunately, we don't know any further details, except that the young chap with his sleeves rolled up is obviously the chauffeur and mechanician, so we'll leave it for you to supply us with any further information or ideas if you can. It only remains for us to say Vive la France and raise a glass to les pionniers of the automobile.

Words: Zack Stiling
 

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