Société du carburateur Zénith

Zénith
Company type	Société anonyme
Industry	Automotive and aerospace carburettor manufacturing
Founded	July 1909; 117 years ago
Founder	Rochet-Schneider
Defunct	1970
Fate	Acquired by Deutsch Vergaser GmbH (DVG)
Headquarters	Lyon, France
Area served	Worldwide (including United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy)
Key people	François Baverey (chief engineer), Amédée Boulade (CEO)
Products	Carburettors and carburation components for automotive and aerospace sectors

Société du carburateur Zénith was a French enterprise dedicated to manufacturing carburettors for both automotive and aerospace sectors. Established in Lyon in 1909 by the automobile producer Rochet-Schneider, it was later purchased in 1970 by the German firm Deutsch Vergaser GmbH (DVG). Recognized as a prominent carburettor maker throughout the 20th century, the company operated production facilities in Lyon as well as internationally, including locations in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Origins

In 1903, François Baverey, born in 1873, encountered problems with his Lorraine-Dietrich vehicle’s engine performance due to improper air-fuel mixture regulation. Although he was not formally trained as an engineer, Baverey utilized his understanding of mathematics and physics to invent a novel carburettor design incorporating two fuel jets; the second jet ensured a stable mixture ratio regardless of engine speed. He secured a patent for this design in France on 30 June 1906 and subsequently obtained international patents.

Baverey chose the name Zenith for his carburettor, inspired by his interest in astronomy. Édouard Rochet, a director at Rochet-Schneider and Baverey's collaborator, facilitated access to the company’s workshops in Lyon. By September 1906, Baverey transferred his patent rights to Rochet-Schneider under an arrangement that provided him royalties per carburettor manufactured and 40% of global licensing fees. Production commenced swiftly, with all Rochet-Schneider automobiles equipped with Zenith carburettors by 1908. By 1909, Lyon-based manufacturer Cottin & Desgouttes had adopted Zenith carburettors exclusively.

1909: Formation of a Dedicated Company

As demand for Zénith carburettors increased—2,740 units were produced between 1907 and 1908 and licenses were granted to Cottin & Desgouttes, De Dion-Bouton, and Peugeot—Rochet-Schneider founded a société anonyme in July 1909. The parent company held an 88% stake in the initial capital of 50,000 francs. Amédée Boulade was appointed chief executive officer while Baverey continued as chief engineer. Initially operating from Rochet-Schneider’s facilities, the new firm introduced its first autonomous product: the Zénith type D carburettor equipped with a throttle.

The company pursued international growth by establishing subsidiaries structured as joint-stock companies responsible for manufacturing and sales abroad: Berlin (1910), Detroit (1911), Stanmore near London (1912), and Turin (1916). From 1909 through 1916, both the parent company and its subsidiaries experienced annual profit growth that doubled year-on-year. This robust financial performance supported investments in infrastructure such as a steel-and-glass industrial gallery designed by Louis Payet and an imposing main gate at the Lyon factory completed in 1913.

First World War

During World War I, Zénith diversified its production to include carburettors tailored for military vehicles and aircraft engines, notably those installed on the US Liberty L-12 aero engine. The surge in military orders necessitated scaling up manufacturing capacity beyond existing limits, resulting in an expanded Lyon facility covering 25,000 square meters with a facade stretching 350 meters.

Marketing strategies evolved accordingly; since 1913, the company had employed a mascot named "" to endorse its products. Throughout the war years, this character was depicted wearing a French Army uniform in promotional materials, strengthening brand association with military clientele.

Between the Wars

Throughout the Interwar period, Zénith expanded its offerings to encompass carburation components such as fuel filters, air filters, and preheaters. This strategic diversification proved successful, with Zénith products being adopted by leading French and global automobile manufacturers. For example, at the 1924 Lyon Auto show, Zenith carburettors were installed in half of the exhibited vehicles, while the remaining units came from 19 other producers. By 1928, the Lyon facility was manufacturing 100,000 carburettors each month, matching the output of their Detroit plant. That same year, every model in the Ford range was fitted with Zenith carburettors.

In the 1920s, Zénith's marketing approach evolved, dropping the "prof. Zénith" branding in 1920 and instead highlighting the carburettor as a key element for driving pleasure. Advertising frequently featured women drivers, vacation themes, and celebrities such as Hollywood star Pearl White.

Zénith invested heavily in Research and development to improve engine efficiency. In 1921, it introduced a "triple diffuser" carburettor designed to enhance fuel and air mixture uniformity and reduce fuel consumption by accelerating airflow for finer vaporization and combustion. Nonetheless, its considerable size and elevated manufacturing costs led to its withdrawal after a few years. The 1929 type U carburettor followed, enabling genuine synchronization between the accelerator pedal and engine speed. In 1930, an inverted carburettor model was launched, delivering a 10% power increase without additional fuel use and improving throttle response by relocating the air intake above the carburettor. By 1932, Zénith incorporated choke valves into their designs, arriving one year after competitor Solex.

By 1934, Zénith encountered difficulties due to the impact of the Great Depression. The rising complexity of products escalated research expenses, prompting a collaboration with American firm Bendix Corporation to share laboratory resources and technical know-how. This partnership produced Zenith-Stromberg carburettors in 1935 as well as Bendix-Stromberg carburetors.

While World War I had been advantageous for Zénith, operations during World War II were restricted under German military occupation. The company manufactured conversion kits allowing French vehicles to operate on fuels approved by occupying forces, including ethanol, acetylene, and those generated by gasogene. Standard production activities recommenced in 1946.

In the decades of the 1950s and 1960s, Zénith maintained its operations despite its principal shareholder Rochet-Schneider being acquired by Berliet in 1959. In 1963, Berliet purchased the Lyon factory, transferring carburettor manufacturing to its subsidiary located in Troyes. By 1970, all automotive-related activities were acquired by DVG (), a former German licensee that later became Pierburg under Rheinmetall Automotive. DVG consolidated Zénith with Solex under SEDEC (). Meanwhile, aero-related production remained independent as , which established a plant in Roche-la-Molière in 1971. This aerospace division was acquired by in 1986 and subsequently became part of Zodiac Aerospace, itself under the umbrella of Safran Aircraft Engines.

Applications

During the 20th century, carburettors produced by and its affiliated companies were installed in a wide range of automobiles, including:

Citroën DS
Zénith 28 IF models fitted on Renault Dauphine and Renault 4
Zénith 32 IF versions used in Renault 6, Renault 12, followed by Renault 5, Renault 18, Renault Fuego, and Renault Trafic
Zénith 35/40 INAT units applied to Peugeot 504 and Peugeot 505