A to Z Reference

1204cc Indian Chief IFA 1945/49-60 Germany Shaft drive as fitted by IFA, is common on German motorcycles. The town of Zschopau in Saxony was the centre for advanced two-stroke development during the inter-war years. Young Danish born engineer Jorgen Stafte Rasmussen established his company in Zschopau during 1919, adopting the initials DKW for the motorcycles…

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125cc Jawa-CZ Cyc-Auto 1934-56 UK If you’re into autocycles and fancy something a little different thank Mr Wellington Butt for the Cyc-Auto. The engine, with its crankshaft in line with the frame, drives a reduction worm gear mounted in the pedal bracket by shaft with chain final drive. Butt initially fitted a 98cc three-port, deflector…

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1961 Aero-Caprioni 125 de luxe Advance c1904-12 UK A respected pre WWI maker, Advance built single cylinder and V-twin motorcycles powered by their own engines. The Advance had a lower than normal frame design. Only a few examples survive. AER 1938-40 UK Advanced looking single and twin cylinder two-strokes built by Liverpudlian Scott dealer and…

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Ernst Degner in action on a Suzuki during 1962 50cc TT Suzuki 1952 – Japan Born in Hamamatsu during 1887, Michio Suzuki founded his business in 1909 to manufacture silk weaving looms. Almost two decades later, Suzuki developed a basic four-cylinder car engine and in 1937 signed a contract to build Austin Seven cars under…

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Minerva-engined 1901 Quadrant Autocyclette Quadrant 1901-28 UK Extravagant claims of ‘Britain’s oldest motor cycle’ were made in Quadrant’s mid-Twenties catalogues. True, they were pioneers, and extremely worthy ones too, but Britain’s first motorcycle makers they weren’t. That honour goes to the Holden, or perhaps… Not through any maliciousness, history was later created to suit the…

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Early example of Munch Mammot Motosacoche 1901-1956 Switzerland An Acacias, Geneva-based company who built complete motorcycles and later supplied proprietary engines. Founded c1899 by Swiss brothers Henri and Arman Dufaux, who took out patents in 1901 for a super attachment for motorising pedal cycles. Comprising the 211cc engine, carburettor, electrics and fuel/oil tank encased in…

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Husqvarna 550cc v-twin Horex 1923-58 and 1978-86 Germany Father and son team Freidrich and Fritz Kleeman owned a number of German companies, including Rex of Bad Homburg, who made glassware and patent containers. Freidrich was also a major shareholder of cyclemotor and motorcycle engine makers Columbus Motorenwerke, while Fritz was a leading racing car driver.…

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Coventry Eagle Flying Eight Cotton 1919-80 UK Frank Willoughby Cotton, the law student son of a Herefordshire farmer, competed in trials and hill climbs often riding an open framed Scott. Inspired, Cotton designed a light but strong triangulated frame which the Butterfield Bros at Levis tested before the outbreak of WWI. Patenting his design, 17434/1914,…

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1949 AB Jackson 99cc To view other content within this reference work, you must be a subscriber. ABC Skootamota 1919-23 UK Best of a rash of primitive scooters built in response to an expected public demand for cheap personal transport after WWI. The Granville Bradshaw designed Skootamota comprises child’s scooter-like tubular steel welded frame, engine…

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1912 Sunbeam single classic motorcycle Sunbeam 1912-39 and 1947-64 UK Born at Ludlow, Shropshire in 1836, John Marston was educated locally at St Lawrence’s Grammar School, then Christ’s Hospital, London before signing an apprenticeship agreement with Edward Perry of Richard Perry, Sons & Co, of Wolverhampton. Established in 1790 at the Jeddo Works they were…

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