Dating letter for a French bike, PLEASE HELP !

[Dougy]

Hello all, the names Dougy from the southport area, I've just found the forum and I'm enjoying it a lot ! I'm into most things petrol or diesel and have been restoring a French Automoto bike this last year, I'm getting pretty close to getting it road ready but have kind of hit a brick wall finding someone to issue a dating letter for it, has anyone got any ideas on this ?
Also apologies on asking for something on my first post !
Thanks Dougy.

[R]

Maybe a french lonely hearts website somewhere, with (bike) photo ?
Sorry, couldn't resist !!

A quick google shows that Automoto was merged into the Peugeot Group in the 1960s, and that "many of the factories are still standing".
http://cyclesautomoto.wordpress.com/history-of-cycles-automoto/
That Museum of Art and Industry in Saint-Étienne sounds like they could be well worth contacting, to see if they could assist. ?  And Peugeot themselves may be able to help, most auto makers have a strong public relations dept, and are proud of their early histories.  And, there is a very strong French veteran motorcycle club, they may be able to assist ?
Parlez-vous francais ?

Speaking of photos, any chance of a photo of what you are restoring ?
No more bad jokes...

[Don-Spada]

The VMCC will usually be able to provide a dating letter for virtually any machine (You do need to join to get the service)

[JoeJ]

Hi,

What is a "dating letter"?

Joe Joyce

[Don-Spada]

Joe  It is a letter from a DVLA approved source, such as the VMCC, verifying the year of manufacture.  Not a lonely hearts introduction service 

[JoeJ]

Thank you.  One other question - is it the letters on the frame of the bike or engine?

I will have to look into this!

Thanks again. Joe

[Don-Spada]

Joe
It is the frame that is critical and it is that element of the bike that the dating certificate relates to.

[JoeJ]

Great, thank you. I do know where the number is on the frame and will look into this.