c. 1950 Solex Moped

French company Solex developed a moped during the Second World War and made it available commercially in 1946. The VeloSolex (often shortened to Solex) was very popular with 8 million being sold globally between 1946-1988. The early models, like this one, have a tubular, swan-neck frame, while later models flatten out the frame. The early models were only offered in black, but this bike has been repainted and had other modifications at some time in its life.

Chronology:
1941 - Solex moped  prototype created by Maurice Goudard and Marcel Mennesson
1946 - Solex Company founded in Courbevoie, France and first mopeds sold commercially
1953 - Model 330 introduced
1955 - Model 660
1957 - Model 1010
1958 - Model 1400
1959 - Model 1700
1961 - Model S2200
1964 - Model S3300
1966 - Model S3800 - most popular Solex model
1968 - Micron was introduced that had no pedals and very small wheels
1971 - Model 5000
1973 - The Pisolex introduced which was the folding version of the 5000
1974 - Model 4600 only made for export market and used the S3800 frame and produced in 4 colours, many were exported to US
1988 - Production ceased in France but the design was licensed to China and Hungary where mopeds were produced for 20 more years
2005 - Production of Solex returned to France
2011 - S4800 marketed bu VeloSolex American in New Jersey
2012 - Three models offered by French company including an electric bike