Rrosenthal

Enfield (now Royal Enfield) Bullet Eagle 1910-15 USA Quality made Spake-engined singles and V-twins. Now rare and expensive. EBE c1920-30 Sweden Proprietary engine manufacturer who made cycle clip-ons and then complete machines with 172-598cc engines. A number of 172cc ohv models with three-speed Sturmey Archer gearboxes survive in Northern Europe. EBS c1924-30 Germany Berlin manufacturer…

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Kawasaki GPZ900R was the bench mark sports machine of the eighties K125 1940s-1950s Russia Yet another copy of the DKW125. Modestly priced survivors have appeared since the end of the East/West divide. Spares will be a problem for, despite the design being heavily based on the Deek, much is not interchangeable. Kaptein 1938-1950s Holland Dutch…

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1924 Kenilworth Miniature Kieft 1955-57 UK Business – founded by Cyril Kieft – best known for their 500cc single seat racing cars and later sports cars – who also marketed German built Hercules 147/198cc scooters and 198cc motorcycles under the Kieft label. King 1901-07 UK Although I only know of one survivor, the King marque…

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Early Seventies 125cc Star-Dream L300 1932-c1948/50 Russia DKW 294/346cc two-stroke clones built in quantity, many for military use. Also ohv 348cc single. Never seen one but, considering numbers built, survivors must exist. Labor 1908-60 France Intermittent production commencing with 300/350cc singles by Courbevoie firm which became part of Alcyon group. Later production included 98-248cc two-strokes…

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Nineties Laverda 750S La Francaise Diamant 1907-54 France Parisian firm, under the Alcyon umbrella for much of its life. Built a sizeable range of predominantly utility type machines from 100cc pedal start, two-stroke lightweights to 500cc four-stroke singles. Post WWII production centred around a range of up to 250cc lightweights. Moderately priced examples surface at…

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Liberia mopeds line up at the Paris Show in 1956 Liberator 1902-c1928 France Pioneer firm who experimented with clip-on kits before making their first production machines, based on the Werner principle, with the engine mounted within the frame diamond. Used proprietary engines including Antoine, Sarolea and JAP. Very rare. Liberia Early Twenties and 1951-56 France…

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1928 Magnat-Debon 350 Mabeco 1923-27 Germany Intrigue surrounds Max Bernhard and Co from Berlin, who began making near exact copies of 600 and 750cc Indian Scouts with engines built by Siemens and Halske. Following successful legal action by Indian, production stopped and Max Bernhard and Co folded to be reformed as Mabeco. Under this label,…

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Artie Ratcliffe on a Matchless competition bike Matchless 1901-67 and 1987 UK Cycle maker Harry H Collier established himself at Herbert Road, Plumstead, London, and was later joined by sons Harry and Charlie to form H Collier and Sons. They began experimenting with motorcycles in 1899, first with the engine mounted over the front wheel,…

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Mercury offered this 99cc Villiers 6F-powered Grey Streak Meister 1949-56 Germany Cycle maker Meister Fahdradwerke began motorcycle production in 1949 using Sachs and Ilo two-stroke engines, many with neat telescopic front forks and plunger style rear suspension. Later, a Zundapp-engined moped joined the range. The 98-197cc motorcycle range, designed by Alfred Osterag, was also marketed…

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Montgomery enjoyed some track success with JAP and Anzani-powered motorcycles Monark 1925 (1913, 1920-25)-c1978 Sweden Confusion, confusion! Varberg firm who, for the greater part of their motorcycle making life, traded as AB Cykelfabriken Monark. They had two attempts at becoming motorcycle makers before establishing the Monark brand in 1925 to become one of Sweden’s leading…

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