182 - MICHELIN - c.1930

MICHELIN - c.1930 “LUCHARD-Paris” Rare and imposing original cast-iron tire compressor and inflator, “FORCE” model. The unit measures approximately 91 x 50 x 35 cm. A rare professional model with a WIDE leg spread and “V”-shaped feet, specifically designed for auto mechanics. It is equipped with its original A.O. (Atelier d’Orléans) motor and topped by the famous, authentic Bibendum figure in the round. The unit is in excellent condition, with the figure retaining all its original colors, accented by a magnificent patina. The unit is original, with the exception of the following components, which have been professionally restored according to best practices: the pressure gauge, the lithographed metal plates, and the tires (the original 11-rivet rims have been preserved). The pressure gauge lever is missing. Equipment has not been tested. Designed in the 1930s for the precise inflation of new low-pressure tires, the “FORCE” model was the state-of-the-art tool for mechanics. Proudly displayed at the front of the shop, this monumental machine, topped by its cast-iron Bibendum figure, served as an advertising sign, becoming for motorists the ultimate symbol of modernity and safety. In 1886, André Michelin and his brother Édouard Michelin took over the family business, Barbier-Daubrée. On May 28, 1889, in Clermont-Ferrand, the company’s name was changed to “Michelin et Cie.” Puy-de-Dôme/Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes The black-and-white photographs, not included in the sale, illustrate the lot and form an integral part of its description (excerpt from the book “More Than a Century of Michelin Objects,” Volume 2, by Gilles Dutto).