Claeys 1952

1952 Claeys cyclemotor.

"The 1952 Belgian Claeys cyclemotor is extremely rare. The first Claeys cyclemotor was a German Rex engine fitted to Claeys’ own frame, followed in 1952 by this model with their own engine. Its styling is very similar to the Velosolex which, by then, was selling well in Belgium. In 1953, the Claeys developed into a proper moped, with a frame-mounted petrol tank and two gears. So this forward-mounted version is now very hard to find..." (www.oldbike.eu)

Claeys company history can be traced back to 1825, when Alexander Claeys set up a forge in Zedelgem, Belgium. His son Louis began making agricultural tools, and the first bicycle was manufactured in 1896. Louis had six sons. One of them, Leon, in 1906 got into agriculture machinery manufacturing. His company was a great success, in 1952 it built the first European self-propelled combine harvester. Other four brothers: Alidor, Aimé, Remi, and Jerome after the First World War set a bicycle factory (more details). In 50s the business was run by Aimé and Remi Claeys. In this time the Claeys brothers introduced their first moped: a vehicle for two, powered by their own Claeys 49 cc two-speed engine. It was equipped with a hand operated clutch, so it started off without pedalling, a rare feat at the time! Unfortunately the brothers did not get along too well, and in 1956 they decided to separate and to become each-other's competitor. The plant was literally divided in two (by means of a brick wall...). Aimé kept the Claeys engine and the Flandria marque, whereas Remi created a new brand, Superia. Moped production in Zedelgem was stopped in late 70s by rapid decline of this market.