Not many people know about the existence of this scooter, some of you might think it never existed. Yes, indeed this scooter has actually been lost somewhere. And the Gloobyscoot scooters (thus the name of this scooter) that exists today are just the replicas.✂️
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| A replica of 1953 Gloobyscoot deLuxe version scooter presented by Tonton Scooters. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2qGbcIZ) |
The Gloobyscoot scooters, at a glance similar to the American classic scooters such as Salisbury and Cushman. Those classic American scooters are also known as a source of inspiration for the birth of scooter culture in Europe shortly after the 2nd World War ended.
This unique-shaped scooter is made by two Frenchmen named Roland Legroote and Maurice Renard. It all started, when Roland Legroote who was initially a foreman and worked in an agricultural machinery assembly workshop which was then mobilized when the 2nd World War began.
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| The 'original' Gloobyscoot scooter' frame and bodywork built by Roland Legroote and Maurice Renard and its engine were taken from the Bernadet Y52 scooter. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2rtmHnL) |
During the war, He was once a prisoner of war and imprisoned in Germany. At the same time, he was employed at the Heinkel automotive factory. After that, he came back to France and participating in resistance activities against the German occupation forces in 1943.
After the war, he returned to work in an agricultural machinery factory in Labatut. Shortly afterward he was reunited with his friend named Maurice Renard who has to work as a marketing agent for Bernardet scooters in Asnières (Seine). At the time, they both were amazed by the appearance of the Italian scooters in the country, then decided to develop the two-wheeled vehicles on their own.
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| The
Gloobyscoot scooter powered by a single-cylinder 125cc engine combined with 4-speeds manual transmission system, so its top speed is 75 km/h. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2rtmHnL) |
They designed the dream scooter' frames, and bodyworks then decided to use an engine that was taken from the Bernardet Y52 scooter. To smooth out the plan then Roland Legroote partnered with Maurice Renard founded a company named Gloobyscoot by using his personal funds, and later they rented a small workshop to complete the assembling process of their dreamed two-wheeled vehicle.
At that time the workshop employed only two mechanics, of course, it was inadequate. Then they decided that the making of the main pieces of the scooter's frame and bodywork was subcontracted to the factory where Roland Legroote is worked.
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| The Gloobyscoot scooter equipped with several mandatory accessories such as a GrandTourime handlebar, spare wheel, watch counter, genuine leather single seat, a typical front bumper, and rear fin. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2rtmHnL) |
As quoted from Scootitude magazine, the prototype of the Gloobyscoot scooter was first introduced in 1953 in front of their small workshop on Chemin Vert Road, Asnières (Seine), a northwestern suburb area about 7.9 km from the center of Paris.
After seen the work results, they felt very satisfied. Then they planned a public presentation at the Salon de l'Auto 1953 in Paris in October 1953. Soon they registered to be a participant of the exhibition to the Fédération Française de Cyclisme (French Cycling Federation). All presentation materials, advertisement posters, flyers, brochures and so on have been prepared, as well as the booth where they will display prototype scooters that have been successfully made beforehand.
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| Several photos derived from Valentine Dubuc about the Gloobyscoot prototype scooter. From left to right, in Photo 1: The atmosphere of the workshop on Chemin Vert Road where the prototype of the Gloobyscoot scooter was made. Photo 2: Seen Maurice Renard (on the left) and Roland Legroote (in the middle) wearing light color suits. Photo 3: Seen the bodywork of the Gloobyscoot prototype scooter. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2rtmHnL) |
But it seems that good fortune has not yet been on their side. Before they could fill the booth at the exhibition, then came bad news that told Maurice Renard suddenly died while he was driving the car. Due to his deep sorrow, Roland Legroote finally gave up and left all the plans that had been prepared fell apart along with the death of Maurice. It could be said, the Gloobyscoot has been finished, before actually starting its adventure.
In the end, Roland Legroote never left the Labatut-based agriculture machinery factory, until he pensioned in 1960 with his last position as the Technical Director and then he and his family (daughter: Jacqueline, and granddaughter: Valentine Dubuc) moved to Malaucène and also brought the Gloobyscoot prototype scooter along with them. And later, Monsieur Legroote passed away in 1976.
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| A rare Gloobyscoot flyer to be distributed at 'Salon de l'Auto 1953' in Paris. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2rtmHnL) |
Time passed, for almost twenty years, the prototype of the scooter slept under the dust of a large Malaucène house' garage. Until finally in 1990 there was an order to vacate the house and garage ... somehow then the sleeping scooter disappeared at the hands of unscrupulous thrift dealers, and its fate not known since.
Today, what happened to the scooter imagined by Roland Legroote/Maurice Renard? Apart from family-related memories here and some documents such as advertisements, and some workshop documents were miraculously rediscovered.
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| A replica of 1953 Gloobyscoot deLuxe version scooter hits on the streets. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2rtmHnL) |
As a closing, if You have any info or clues about the Gloobyscoot scooter, don't hesitate to contact Roland Legroote's granddaughter named Valentine Dubuc. She will be happy to learn more about this scooter and is ready to realize her grandfather's dream. Here's another mysterious France-made scooter known as Boudier Super B58.
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