Manufactured in France 1932-1936 1
6, Impasse des Cailloux, Clichy
Established in Clichy by Pierre de Font-Réaulx, previously of DFR, Robert Dahan, and two others. One story has it that the brand was derived from two of the founders names - Dahan & Réaulx; another version suggests that it alludes to the home town of one of the other partners, the financier Dominique Ducoloné (formerly of Dollar) who came from Dax on the south west coast near the Spanish border. The fourth partner was Mélézieux, a friend of Géo Ham.
According to Tragatsch, these were well-designed machines with two-stroke engines from 98cc to 174cc and four-stroke ohv unit-construction engines from 123cc to 498cc.
There were relationships with Dollar, DFR and Dresch.
In 1933 the marque performed very well in the "Paris-les Pyrénées-Paris" endurance event with three machines ridden by Font-Réaulx, Lioux and Boura, taking two gold medals and Boura took a silver.
"Ces motos bénéficiaient d'une excellente technologie, pour un prix de vente bas", reads the advertising of the day. (Excellent value for money considering the advanced technology). Another advertisement reads, "Sur ce moteur, les solutions les plus chères ont été employées sans parcimonie, parce qu'elles sont les seules qui puissent donner entière satisfaction." (On this engine, the most expensive solutions have been used without cutting corners, as they are the only ones that can give complete satisfaction).
1932 Type A 350 cm3 OHV
1934 Type A 350 cm3 twin-tube sports model.
1934 Type A 350 cm3 luxury model.
1934 Type AU 175 cm3 two-stroke
1936 Baby 100cm3 4T OHV twin-port 61x60mm BMA
1936 : Rafale 350 et 500 cm3. Hi-cam OHV twin-port, unit-construction. Named for the Caudron Rafale aircraft, one dear to the heart of former pilot Pierre de Font-Réaulx.
The 350cc model was very well received and was written up in Moto Revue issue 522.
1936 brought a number of problems for the firm - the ongoing financial crisis was exacerbated in France by a general strike in June, and prices rose steeply in early 1937. Pierre de Font-Réaulx had a nasty fall in 1936 which left him immobilised for a year. Robert Dahan left the company to join Omnium, the owner of Dollar, Chaise and Majestic. Dax was not present at the 1936 Paris Salon.
Sources: JLB Creations; Wikipedia.fr; Guélon Collection; Tragatsch.
Notes 1) Tragatsch gives a start date of 1932, as does motosdax.free.fr, but t2frx3.online.fr says 1930. The history of DFR notes that Pierre de Font-Réaulx left that firm in 1932.
Mon Jun 07 2010
brian.townley<at>orange.fr
Dax motorcycle
Dax Moto Black Dax 125cc
Can you tell me the overall length of the machine and the total weight
France
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