Ernest Sylvain Bollee, born in 1814 brought his family to Le Mans in 1842, where he established a foundry for the production of bells. During the 1860s his health deteriorated and he was forced to turn the day-to-day running of his expanding businesses to his three sons. Amédée-Ernest, his oldest was given charge of the bell foundry, while Ernest-Jules (1846–1922) supervised the hydraulic ram business and the youngest son, Auguste-Sylvain Bollée (1847–1906) assumed control of the Éolienne Bollée wind-turbine factory.
While others developed steam engines to power locomotives or factories Earnest’ oldest son Amédée père (father) was fascinated by the potential of steam as a source for personal vehicle propulsion. In 1873 Amédée père manufactured his first steam vehicle and two years later his L’Obéissante (“The Obedient”) made the first road trip between Le Mans and Paris in 18 hours. L’Obéissante carried 12 passengers and had a cruising speed of 30 km/h (19 mph) and a top speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). It was driven by two V-twin steam engines, one for each rear wheel. In 1878, Amédée père designed the the first automobile to be put into series production, La Mancelle. His son in turn, Amédée Bollée fils (son) would continue his work with steam powered cars while his other son Léon would concentrate on petrol engines.
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Ernest Sylvain Bollee, born in 1814 brought his family to Le Mans in 1842, where he established a foundry for the production of bells. During the 1860s his health deteriorated and he was forced to turn the day-to-day running of his expanding businesses to his three sons. Amédée-Ernest, his oldest was given charge of the bell foundry, while Ernest-Jules (1846–1922) supervised the hydraulic ram business and the youngest son, Auguste-Sylvain Bollée (1847–1906) assumed control of the Éolienne Bollée wind-turbine factory.
While others developed steam engines to power locomotives or factories Earnest’ oldest son Amédée père (father) was fascinated by the potential of steam as a source for personal vehicle propulsion. In 1873 Amédée père manufactured his first steam vehicle and two years later his L’Obéissante (“The Obedient”) made the first road trip between Le Mans and Paris in 18 hours. L’Obéissante carried 12 passengers and had a cruising speed of 30 km/h (19 mph) and a top speed of 40 km/h (25 mph). It was driven by two V-twin steam engines, one for each rear wheel. In 1878, Amédée père designed the the first automobile to be put into series production, La Mancelle. His son in turn, Amédée Bollée fils (son) would continue his work with steam powered cars while his other son Léon would concentrate on petrol engines.
