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A Brief History of the Italian Entrepreneur
Max Turkheimer (Moses Max Türkheimer, b. Germany 1860) moved to Italy with his family as a boy. Turkeimer had been importing Hildebrand & Wolfmuller motorcycles since 1894.
He began producing motorcycles in 1902 and is perhaps best known for the Moto Astra. The company was a main agent for Ariel, with whom he had a close relationship - he was a shareholder in Charles Sangster's company, and that relationship continued when Jack Sangster took over from his father. Max concurrently advertised Moto Derad. His company also built O.T.A.V. cyclecars from 1905 to 1908, and Stella motorcycles 1924 to 1927.[1,2]
Alberico Seiling was Italy's general representative for Max Turkheimer. Francesco Vincenzo Lanfrachi of Florence worked with Turkheimer before creating his own business in 1913, and later created the FVL marque.
Türkheimer died in 1936 and his cousin, also named Max Türkheimer, briefly took the reins. He died in Auschwitz.[3]
Junior and Otav Car Co.
117 Long Acre, W.C. Stand No. 300.
This firm are showing a number of the little "Otav" voiturettes, which have been previously described in The Review. Their great feature is, of course, their price, which is only 95 guineas. They have a 5 H.P. air-cooled engine, the cylinder being jacketed, and the air being forced through by a powerful fan. The engine drives by chain to a countershaft placed across the car and carrying a two-speed epicyclic gear. From the countershaft the drive to the road wheels is by " V " belts. The car behaved distinctly well in the Auto-Cycle Club run to York and back some months ago. We understand that the car is selling well, and it is certainly an interesting type of vehicle.
Notes
Sources: Moto di Lombardia, The Motor Cycle, nomidellashoah.it, Tragatsch p80, et al
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