Vintage German Motorcycles
Vintage German Motorcycles
Classic German Motorcycles
This page lists brands of which little is known.
For a more complete listing visit the German Index.
Amex
According to a Dutch post, after the takeover of Moto Morini by Cagiva, Fritz Alexander continued to build Morini's under the name Rebello.
This may have been Fritz Alexander from Neustadt am Rübenberg, but there is little information available. Another post mentions that Fritz Alexander took care of sales for Cagiva in Germany.
Sources: winni-scheibe.com, et al.
Ansbach
Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycle) with the type name "Express" possibly built by Ansbach.
Ansbach built automobiles between c.1910 and 1916, with the aid of the German firm Faun, a company well known for its trucks and buses. In 1916 Faun took control of the Ansbach factory and began manufacturing its own automobiles under the Faun brand. The factory was taken over by DKW around 1928.
Sources:
Automobilia 85-45
Autopasion18.com
Arminia 1925-1931
The marque is mentioned in Nürnberger Motorradindustrie: Eine Chronik aller Firman, and is apparently related to Sept & Unger.
Bajuware
Apparently a bicycle wholesaler, Völker und Kölbel from Regensburg (1928-1935), and after the war Karl Kölbel KG.
Source: Farben-Schiessl
Bechtold
Bicycles were manufactured by Xaver Bechtold Fahrrädertweil-Bühlingen from 1926
In 1945 they built bicycles under the brands "Refax" and "Bechtold".
They appear to have built at least one motorcycle model in the 1950s or 60s.
Source: Farben-Schiessl.
Bernhardt
Based in Berlin they built Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) in from 1925 to 1926.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Bully
Based in Berlin, the company built Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) 1933 to 1934. There is some doubt about this.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
BZ
Manufactured by Bootswerft Zeppelinhafen of Potsdam, 1923-1924, this was a cyclecar typical of the era with a very square body, long running boards and four narrow wire spoked wheels, distinguished only by its aluminium body. It was powered by the 500cc BMW boxer twin.
Sources: Oldtimerclub Lachendorf, et al
Diagon
A Dutch post indicates that this brand was built in 1923 with a backbone frame incorporating the petrol tank. No evidence has been found to date for verifcation.
In one of the much loved books, Rubeus Hagrid and Harry Potter travel to Diagon Alley on a motorcycle.
Diana
Constructed three-wheeled vehicles in Munichs from 1922 to 1923.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Dromos
Leipzig firm manufactured Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) of the "Kavalier" type in small numbers from 1933 to 1934. They also built bicycles and trailers.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Eamh 1927-29 - No record found.
Econlfe 1923-25 - No record found.
Econvans-Ponsdorf 1924-25 - No record found.
Horten
Horten was a distributor who probably rebranded mopeds in the 1960s and 70s.
Models included Eurospeed - Standex
Source: Farben-Schiessl
Induhag
Düsseldorf manufacturer of a small three-wheeled small car powered by an electric motor in the years around 1921 to 1924.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Lenz
Manufactured Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) in 1926.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Liwaba
Based in Hamburg, the Lieferwagen-Bau-Ges cargo tricycles were built from 1930 to 1931.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Luther & Heyer
The Berlin company, which has been active in the motor vehicle industry since 1924, produced Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) from 1933 to 1939 in three engine sizes.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Maschinen- und Motorenbau-Gesellschaft
The Berlin firm manufactured Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) named "Transportette" in 1926.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Matthes
Manufactured Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) in Ulm from 1931 to 1932.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Merkur
Located in Quickborn / Holstein, the firm manufactured cargo tricycles from 1929 to 1939. There were several models which were fitted with their own engines. The engines were sold to other manufacturers including Demmo in the Dutch East Indies.
Possibly related to the Mercur aircraft company of Berlin (Merkur Flugzeugwerke). See Dobro-Motorist.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
N.H.S.
Manufactured 1923-28. Noted as being fitted with Paque engines.
Nordhusia
Nordhausen firm manufactured three-wheelers for the disabled from 1926 to 1927.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Ostner
Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) manufactured in Brand-Erbisdorf from 1932 (or perhaps earlier) until 1941. Post-war, Ostner was persectuted by the Soviets and fled to West Germany, abandoning his business.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Petri & Lehr
Manufactured in Dietzenbach, these were three-wheelers for disabled people produced from about 1935 to 1943.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Pug
Three-wheeled mini car manufactured 1923 to 1925
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Privileg
Models
Source: Farben-Schiessl.
Riebe
Also known as RAG, the Berlin firm manufactured Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) from 1921 to 1923.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Schminke
Models
Orion (1953-54)
Mentor(53-55)
Forelle(56)
Forelle Touren
Forelle Sport
Source: Farben-Schiessl
Schwabenthan
Cargo tricycles manufactured in Berlin from 1922 or 1925 to 1926.
Source: Automobilia 85-45
Stürmer
Adolf Zeuner & Sons, a bicycle wholesaler from Schweinfurt, sold Stürmer mopeds which were identical to the Vaterland
Source: Farben-Schiessl.
Unos
Weiss built a 74cc Sachs machine with the Unos brand on the tank. An identical machine had the Weiss marque. 2110.
Rarer German Marques
