Méral was a French marque that was based in La Fuye, near Tours, in the Loire Valley. Their catalog included a model for most genres: road racing, track, a mountain bike, lady’s racers and some impeccable randonneurs. This particular model was manufactured before Méral was taken over, while the foreman builder was Francis Quillon, now considered a guru of French frame building.
A wonderful example of the glory days of randonneuring—when one relied on the luminescence of a torch to navigate moonlit country roads. The other lamp is actually dynamo-driven, located behind the bottom bracket and actuated by the extra shifter on the seat tube. The frame has been constructed from the ultra-reliable Reynolds 531, and kitted out with Huret derailleurs and a Spécialités TA Cyclotouriste crank set. I can almost smell the damp canvas from here.
Special thanks to tetedelacourse for the fine photography, visit his Flickr for more. Thanks also, always, to Classic Rendezvous.