Short descriptions of vintage motorcycles Douglas to Gnome Rhone
DKW
1907, Germany, was founded in 1907 by the Danish
Jörgen Skafte Rasmussen in Zschopau, south of Chemnitz, Germany, in a closed
weaving-mill as a instrument panel factory. During the First World War he
occupied himself with steam-powered vehicles for roads. From this time
derived the abbreviation "DKW" (Dampf-Kraft-Wagen -
steam power car). In the difficult 20ies he changed from steam-powered
vehicles for roads to small toy engines - the abbreviation "DKW" got a new
definition: Des Knabens
Wunsch (The boy's wish). He developed from a 18 cm³ two stroke toy
engine in 1919 a 120 cm³ engine for bicycles, the hour of birth of a new
motor cycle mark - "DKW" - again with a new definition: Das Kleine
Wunder - the little miracle!
Already in 1928 DKW had been the biggest motor cycle factory in the world.
In 1932 DKW merged with Audi, Horch and Wanderer into "Auto Union" with the
world wide famous four intertwined rings, which stayed alive until 1964.
After the War DKW started again with an engagement in motor cycle racing in 1951. At first with 125 cm³ engines, then with a new constructed, without compressor, 250 cm³ engine and finally the sensational 350 cm³ 3-cylinder-engine which won the German Championship in 1953 already.
When the Ingolstadt based factory changed 1958 into a car manufacture the old experts of two-wheels moved to Nuremberg to the "Zweirad-Union". This company had been established under the management of the biggest German engine producer "Fichtel & Sachs". Under that roof united then the marks DKW, Hercules and Viktoria.
With the model 250 ULD Ewald Kluge won 1938 not only the only one TT title but also the European Championship 250 cm³ for his Zschopau/Sachsonia based DKW-factory. He was European Champion also in that year and repeated it again 1939. This water cooled split-single two-stroke engine model hat a performance of 28,5 hp.
Click here for some more DKW-photos on my pages.
Douglas
1902, Great Britain, the brothers William and Edward Douglas had a workshop for producing shoes-repairing-tools and machines. From this productions a highly regarded foundry developed. And Mr. John Joseph Barter, an engine-producer was looking for a foundry, which produce durable parts. And so they got together, Douglas and Barter. The first real Douglas was designed by Barter in 1907 and had 2,75 hp.
In 1912 a Douglas succeeded in the TT, but obviously with a broken piston just after having past the finishing line, as it turned out later. In the same year a 350 cm³ Douglas set up world record in “the flying Mile" with a average speed of 116,86 km/h. Even in the 20ies Douglas continued with world records. In 1922 were five Douglas-riders exceeding the magic 100 miles on the Brooklands race course. And in the same year among the first 25 places of the Senior TT 9 Douglas engines were to be found, and six among the first 21 places in the Junior TT. Even the sidecar class was won by a Douglas machine.
After the Second World War Douglas kept its head above water by producing Vespa scooters. When in 1957 the scooter boom died away Douglas stopped the production.
Famous riders had been William "Bill" Douglas, C. T. Atkins, Freddy Dixon, Rudolf Runtsch, Toni Babl or Max Reheis;
Ducati
1926, Italy, 1926 the brothers Adriano and Marcello Ducati founded a company, which occupied itself with the evaluation of Ducati-radio-patents. This in Borgo Panigale near Bologna based electrical company ran well and had in the Second World War up to 7.000 coworkers. After the war they built first 35mm cameras and finally Motor vehicles.
" Cucciolo" the first bicycle auxiliary engine with 48 cm³ was called and had 1.5 HP, head-steered four-cycle mini-motor with two gears. 1950 they produced then a 46 kg heavy moped; 1952 followed a light motorcycle and further smaller motorcycles. At the same time they began to engage in racing, however successes began only after the retreat of Gilera, Moto Guzzi and Mondial at the end of of 1957. 1958 had the Ducati racing team prominent members: Sammy Miller from Great Britain and Luigi Taveri from Switzerland, however missed Taveri in this year completely scarcely the world champion title on Ducati (he became behind Ubbiali second). 1959 the still blood-young Mike Hailwood rode for Ducati. Starting from 1960 there was then no more work running team.
Excelsior
1874, Great Britain, four motor cycle factories used the Excelsior trade mark. The oldest was - surprisingly - on of the both German Excelsior factories; one was in the United States and on in Birmingham. The English factory wrote for several times history in technique and motor sport. The first time the name "Excelsior" appeared in 1874 on bicycles of the factory Bayliss, Thomas & Co. In 1896 the first "Excelsior" motor cycle had been constructed with an Belgium Minerva-engine and a strengthen bicycle frame.
Between 1923 and 1939 many famous names are to be found among the motor cycle racers of this mark like Wal Handley, Charlie Dodson, Ernie Nott or Ted Mellors. The last entry into the list of starters at the TT had been in 1958, long after the factory had closed the production of racing engines. The final end came in 1964. remained are the marvellous motorcyles and the fasted ever ridden lap at Brooklands: with a streamlined shape covered Excelsior JAP, M. B. Saunders rode in 1933 this lap with 102,48 mph (about 165 km/h).
FN
Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre - originally founded in 1889 as arms and munitions factory, 1895 also bicycles, Belgium, the first four cylinder motor cycle engine in the history of engineering produced in series was produced by the factory FN in 1901 - 1902; the company started in 1895 with chassis for bicycles, followed in 1898 with the production of bicycles and from 1900 on with motorcyles. The first FN-model was fitted out with a light one cylinder four stroke engine with an automatic "sniffing" valve. This just only 135 cm³ engine produced one and a quarter horsepower, which drove the rear-wheel with a leather strap.
On 21th October 1926 FN reached four world records, the most remarkable had been made with a half-litre-FN with 183,5 km/h ("Flying Kilometre"). On 22nd April 1934 the well known Belgium Racer Rénè Milhoux broke the record of Ernst Henne from 1932 (on BMW with 214,22 km/h) and marked it new with 224,019 km/h! Milhoux set up about 60 world records before his time with FN as he worked with Gillet. In 1963 FN at Herstal, Belgium, closed its motor cycle production.
Garelli
Garelli, Italy, 1912, the 1886 in Turin born engineer Adalberto Garelli were considered as a idea-rich technical designer. E.g. he possessed a patent on a feet gear shifting system , which was manufactured by Bianchi under license. In addition he had already constructed a two-stroke engine designated to him, produced in 1913 as unique. After the First World War, first still as an employee actively, he created 1919 his company Garelli in Milan.
The first motorcycle with 350 cm³ an engine, had been built there, won the first sporting event in the autumn 1919: Ettore Girardi won the remote trip Milan - Napoli - 840 km on Garelli with a average speed of 38,29 km/h. The Garelli record list of the following years is long: 1923 - eight world records, until 1926 of altogether 138 still valid long-distance records, numerous GP-victories among other of Ernesto Gnesa (Monza 1923), famous racer such as Tazio Nuvolari and Achille Varzi began their racer career with Garelli. This record series still continued also after the Second World War. Adalberto Garelli withdrew himself 1968 from the business and died to few later.
Gilera
1909, Italy, with this water cooled in-line-4-cyl. model with supercharger, which development started in 1927, came not earlier as 1936 into the hand of Gilera after a few other owners. In 1937 Piero Taruffi realized the two-wheel world speed record for a short time with an average of 274,181 km/h; 1939 Dorini Serafini won the European Championship 500 with this model;
The 500 4-cyl. dohc, designed by Ing. Pietro Remor in 1954/55, was the sucm³essor to the famous pre WW2 supercharged "Rondine", a product of the Gilera factory based at Arcore, Italy. In 1949, its first year competing in World Championship, even gained second place, only beaten by one point, ridden by Nello Pagini. In the following years six world championship titles were won with rider U. Masetti in 1950 and 1952; 1953/55 Geoff Duke and 1957 L. Liberati; the Gilera Company is now owned by the Piaggio-Group.
Gnôme Rhône
1918, France, most motorcycle manufacturers developed from bicycle production their motorcycles; not so BMW and Gnôme Rhône, which have their roots in the development of aircraft engines; after the First World War Gnôme Rhône began with the production of motorcycles. With the "ABC" of Granville Brandshaw - 398 cm³ within the framework Flat twin ohv engine crosswise posed - set on first attempt the hourly record on the Brooklands on 109 km/h!
Records followed: among other: 1934 in Montlhéry also a 500 cm³ - in one hour of 147.8 km/h; 1937: likewise in Montlhéry with a 750 cm³ Flat twin ohv Kardan - 136.5 km/h over 24 hours; 1949 - 175 cm³ R 5 reached in "Bol d' Or" on the straight line 154.3 km/h - faster than the 350 cm³! Already shortly after the Second World War however the end of the company began. 1952 took over SNECMA the reins - "the magic word" was called jet engines.