Antoine Motorcycles and Engines of Belgium

Engines

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Antoine Motorcycles and Engines

Antoine Poster c.1903

V. Antoine Fils & Co. c1905

Address: 41 quai Saint Léonard, Liège

Victor Antoine Fils & Cie was a Belgian firm established in 1899. The company built motorcycles and engines from 1900 until at least 1905 when a four-cylinder 415cc motorcycle was created. It is likely that this engine was designed by Paul Kelecom who worked on the FN four engine and is known to have designed single-cylinder engines for Antoine.

Their machines were quite advanced, featuring brakes on the drive-belt pulley and large cooling fins on the cylinder.

At least two automobiles were offered. One was a 4 hp voiturette. The other, built in 1903, was a 15/25hp car. Automobile manufacture ceased that year.

Antoine motor bicycles have undergone the following improvement for 1906. The single-cylinder machines are fitted with magneto manufactured by the company, which is of the low tension type, the current being intensified by an induction coil. The magnets are enclosed in a metal cover, which protects them from mud and wet. The magneto transmission is effected by means of gear wheels, which are completely cased in. On the front and rear wheels are band brakes, which are operated by means of Bowden wires, the exhaust valve lifter being worked in the same manner. Large mudguards are fitted. This is a small but important feature. The alterations referred to apply to the single as well as to the double-cylinder machines, with the exception that the magneto on the latter is a Simms-Bosch.

Antoine 1905 4 h.p. Tandem

A new 4 h.p. tandem bicycle, of which the motive power is a 4 h.p. Antoine engine fitted with mechanically- operated valves. The frame is well designed, and is composed entirely of straight tubes. The engine is carried between the two halves of the frame in a position midway between the two riders. No pedals are supplied, footrests taking their place, and on each one used by the driver are two pedals, that on the near side controlling the friction clutch, and that on the offside the internal expanding brake on the rear wheel. The said clutch may also be operated by means of a long hand lever situated on the tank. There are two petrol tanks in each portion of the frame, a copper pipe connecting the two together. A good toolbag is fitted, having an outside space for the parafin can.

The Stanley Show, November 1905
Source: The Motor Cycle

Marques employing Antoine engines included:

Martinsyde (aircraft)