A De Dion Bouton Souvenir

Sir,

I wonder if any of your readers could help me find out the history behind an old de Dion engine model. It stands 4 3/4 in. high and its circular bottom measures 2 3/8 in. There is an inscription around its base reading: ” *Tous l’ont copié aucun ne l’a égalé * Exécute 50000 fois,” and under it: “Procedes de Fonte Btré S.G.D.G. – Sté Ane des Alliages Cothias.”

KENT OLSSON.

Gothenburg C., Sweden.

(I have heard of these paperweights before; they were presumably issued in veteran or Edwardian times by De Dion Bouton Ltd., probably to their agents, friends of the Press, etc. In the same spirit, during the 1920s, Renault sent out little silver replicas of the Renault 45 sports torpedo and Armstrong Siddeley cigarette boxes in the form of their vee-radiator. – Ed.)