Following a relatively common trend in the burgeoning automobile industry of the late 19th century, Automoto arose out of the bicycle parts manufacturing industry in Saint-Étienne, France when several of these companies merged into a single entity. Their output began with cycles, motorized tricycles, and light automobiles but would venture beyond transportation into other types of machines. Automoto survives to this day having been absorbed into Peugeot in 1962. Like some of its competitors, Automoto offered vehicles as kits to be assembled by more adventurous owners. What better way to become comfortable with the workings of your new machine than by assembling it yourself?

During the company’s early years from 1898 to 1904, its motorized machines were fitted with water- and air-cooled engines, heavily influenced by the De Dion-Bouton design. Upright tricycles and quadracycles that were near duplicates of those made by De Dion were Automoto’s best-known products.

The tricycle offered here most likely derives from this early period in Automoto’s history and appears to be one of the kits offered by the firm. A Leon Bolee-style laydown design, it features a metal reinforced wooden frame that supports the seat, a fire wall, and a single-cylinder engine. With an approximate output of two horsepower, the tricycle features a water-cooled head and an air-cooled cylinder fed by a throttle-less, Maybach Phoenix type carburetor by GA Paris. Water is sourced from a tank positioned above the engine while fuel is supplied via a tank behind the driver’s seat. Power is sent to the single rear wheel by belt drive, and the operator can select between three ratios depending on the terrain. Typical for tricycles of the period, ratio changes cannot be made while driving. Power is engaged through a clutch pedal while engine speed is regulated not by a throttle but by a mechanism restricting the movement of the exhaust valve. Braking is achieved with a wooden brake drum operated by a separate pedal as well as a handbrake lever. Up front, the pair of wheels ride on a sliding pillar suspension and are turned from the steering column by cables. Lighting the way ahead are a pair of Phares Besnard lamps.

A fascinating project with plenty of potential, this early French tricycle from the dawn of the 20th century is a wonderful display of the various engineering solutions trialed during early automotive development.