M.Tholomé was an automobile manufacturer based on the north side of Paris between 1919 and 1922, which produced

cyclecars A cyclecar was a type of small, lightweight and inexpensive motorized car manufactured in Europe and the United States between 1910 and the early 1920s. The purpose of cyclecars was to fill a gap in the market between the motorcycle and the ca ...

History of the business

The M. Tholomé company was located at Rue Godillot 27 in

Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine (; literally "Audoin (bishop), St. Audoin on Seine") is a Communes of France, commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France, located from the Kilometre zero, centre of Paris. It is part of the Seine-Saint-Denis Department ...

. In the years directly following the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

there were many people keen to buy cars but unable to afford them.

Cyclecars A cyclecar was a type of small, lightweight and inexpensive motorized car manufactured in Europe and the United States between 1910 and the early 1920s. The purpose of cyclecars was to fill a gap in the market between the motorcycle and the ca ...

which were in effect just like normal cars but smaller, lighter and cheaper were a response to this demand, and cyclecar manufacturers proliferated in several European countries, especially

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. Tholomé was among the more prominent French cycle car makers. A Tholomé advertisement from 1920 highlights one particular attraction: the car’s weight of 320 kg (i.e. less than 350 kg) meant that it qualified for a reduced annual car tax charge of just 100 francs.

The cars

At the

Motor Show An auto show, also known as a motor show or car show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is attended by automotive industry representatives, dealers, auto journalists a ...

in October 1919 the manufacture took a stand and presented an open topped two seater cyclecar that could be ordered with either a V2 7 HP 750cc motor-bike engine or a 4-cylinder 10 HP 900cc unit, subsequently also available with 1095cc. The four cylinder engines came from

Ruby Ruby is a pinkish-red-to-blood-red-colored gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum ( aluminium oxide). Ruby is one of the most popular traditional jewelry gems and is very durable. Other varieties of gem-quality corundum are called sapph ...

, another cyclecar manufacturer, located nearby: the smaller engines were supplied by the

Train A train (from Old French , from Latin">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... , from Latin , "to pull, to draw") is a series of connected vehicles th ...

motorbike company. Customers specifying the larger engine were then given a choice between a 2-speed or a 5-speed manual transmission. An advertisement for the cars in 1920 described the cars, which came with open-topped “torpedo” style bodies with fashionably tapered “boat-deck” style rears, and featuring two seats, positioned one beside the other. Prices were given for “complete cars”, including a hood, a windscreen, lighting, a kit of tools and a spare wheel. The 750cc engine version was priced at 5,350 francs while the four cylinder engine cars were listed at 6,660 francs or 7,250 francs according to whether a two speed or five speed transmission was specified.

Reference, sources and notes

* Harald Linz, Halwart Schrader: ''Die Internationale Automobil-Enzyklopädie.'' United Soft Media Verlag, München 2008, . * George Nick Georgano (Chefredakteur): ''The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile.'' Volume 3: ''P–Z.'' Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2001, . (englisch) * George Nick Georgano: ''Autos. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours.'' Courtille, Paris 1975. (französisch) {{DEFAULTSORT:Tholome Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of France Car manufacturers of France Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1919 Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1922 1919 establishments in France 1922 disestablishments in France