COLLECTION
MUSEUM MAURICE DUFRESNE
Old machines, cars, bicycles, planes, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, agricultural or army machinery, vintage posters and peculiar contemporary objects, a true heritage of vintage machinery from 1850 to the 1950’s. A 3 hour visit, a journey through time, for the whole family and all generations, to discover more than 3000 magnificent pieces with a number of these, unique in the world.. Here you will find a preview of a few pieces that you can discover during your visit…
VELOCIPEDE / GRAND-BI - 1880
STEAM ROAD ENGINE «CASE» - 1907 – DETAIL
Very rare, this engine with 80HP was used for making roads. Accidentally found by Maurice Dufresne in a pond near Marseille, in the Bouches-du-Rhône region.
CATERPILLAR «HOTCHKISS» - 1940 - DETAIL
Found in a cave near Verdun, Meuse region, during the second world war. Only two pieces have been discovered in France.
MONOPLANE TYPE XI «LOUIS BLÉRIOT» - 1909
Aboard this same type of plane Louis Blériot, constructor and French aviator was the first to traverse La Manche, on 25 July 1909. It was restored by « les ailes anciennes » in Paris
GUILLOTINE OF THE REVOLUTION - 1792
Maurice Dufresne found it in 1969, on a demolition site near Rue des Tanneurs, in Tours. Completely disassembled, it was placed between beams and scrap iron. It is 30 years later, when wanting to clean the place where it was stored that Maurice Dufresne discovered « the sheepshead » (iron piece that looks like a sheepshead which is fitted on the blade to give it weight) and then realised what it was! After assessment, it appeared to be a mobile guillotine, delivered to the department Indre-et-Loire in 1794. It was transported during the night by 2 coachmen and used until 1853.
MECANISMS OF MOULIN DE MARNAY
ELECTRIC TRUCK «SOVEL» - 1938
First truck used by the company « Poulain » in Blois, Loir-et-Cher region.
TANDEM MOTORBIKE - 1950
Unique in the world, this beautiful motorbike equipped with a two-stroke engine was hand-built by Mr Ramiro, from Cinq-Mars-la-Pile, Indre-et-Loire region.
TRACTOR «DAVID» - 1925
This very rare tractor/motorized cultivator is equipped with a petrol engine of 6HP. It was manufactured in Tours, Indre-et-Loire region, and found in Cahors, Lot region.
STEAMROLLER «LAFFLY» - UNDATED- DETAIL
ROOM «PANHARD & LEVASSOR» - OVERVIEW
Here one discovers, amongst others, the two-seater glider that was used in the movie «La grande Vadrouille» by Gérard Oury starring Bourvil and Louis de Funès.
VAN «FORD» - 1912
Equipped with a petrol engine of about 14HP, it weighs 1200 kg. It belonged to «l’Hôtel de la petite Poste» in Reims, Marne region. They used it as a publicity vehicle.
TRACTOR «LE PERCHERON» - 1948 - DETAIL
This semi-diesel of 25HP was manufactured in Colombes, Hauts-de-Seine region, under licence of «Lanz».
WEAVING LOOM – WEAVING FACTORY «BASSEREAU»- 1902
This magnificent weaving loom was used to make braidings for the court of the shah of Iran.
VINTAGE POSTER «HUILES BERLIET» - UNDATED
TOOLS OF ANCIENT CRAFTS
ENGLISH DOUBLE DECKER BUS «LEYLAND» ENGINE - 1949 - DETAIL
Equipped with a «Leyland» diesel engine of about 70HP, this English bus was found in the Vendée region.