“What echoes remain of an industrialist’s dream on the Rue Lucien Rosengart?” I ask you now. This street honors Lucien Rosengart. He was no ordinary man. He was a visionary.
Lucien Rosengart was born in Paris in 1881. He died in 1976. Rosengart founded the Rosengart automobile company. His story is one of innovation and resilience.
At 12, Lucien earned his mechanical aptitude certificate. He opened a workshop in Belleville. There, he made screws, nuts, and washers. Rosengart even invented a stainless wood screw. It was used in the Paris Metro’s construction. This invention made him wealthy.
During World War I, he designed a shell fuse. This fuse exploded before impact. He opened two factories to produce these fuses. Andre Citroen recruited him. Rosengart’s factories produced 100,000 fuses daily.
Rosengart’s inventions were not limited to wartime. He created a removable single-cylinder engine. It powered bicycle rear wheels. He also invented bicycle lighting and the pédalo. And he invented baby-foot which is also known as table soccer. Plus, he pioneered stock financing.
He was passionate about water transport. In 1926, he founded the Paris boat show. Rosengart believed in small, affordable cars. He helped launch the Citroen 5CV. Later, he developed his own mass-produced small cars.
In 1923, Robert Peugeot hired Rosengart. Peugeot needed help to save his struggling family business. Rosengart gained immense power quickly. But his risky ventures nearly bankrupted Peugeot. One such venture was Peugeot Maritime. It produced motorboats. Only ten were ever made. Jean-Pierre Peugeot ousted him in 1927.
That same year, Rosengart bought an old factory in Neuilly. He focused on automobile construction. He manufactured the Austin Seven under license. With Jules Salomon’s help, he created the Rosengart LR2. This marked the beginning of Société Rosengart.
An LR2 set a distance record. François Lecot drove it 100,000 kilometers. He drove 900 km per day. The car experienced no major issues.
The Rosengart LR4 was heavily modified. It used the same engine. The engine’s capacity was 747cc. It had a three-speed gearbox. It was marketed as the Rosengart Cinq. Variations of this model continued until the 1950s.
In 1935, Rosengart faced financial difficulties. His product line was too broad. Some models did not sell well. He created a new company. It was called Société Industrielle de l’Ouest Parisien (SIOP). This new company succeeded SA Rosengart in 1936.
Lucien Rosengart went to live in southern France in 1942. He wanted to avoid persecution due to his Jewish heritage. After the war, he sold SIOP. He dedicated himself to painting.
Édouard Vuillard painted his portrait in 1930. It is now displayed at the Musée d’Orsay. Lucien Rosengart is buried in Montrouge cemetery.
The Rue Lucien Rosengart reminds us of a man of vision. He was an inventor, an industrialist, and a pioneer. His creations touched many aspects of life. From wartime necessities to leisure activities. He left an indelible mark on France. His legacy lives on in the memory of his achievements. And in this street that carries his name.