Dessauer Motoren-Werk Walter Dieterle
Dessau, Fischergasse 5, 1921-c.1928
The firm built bicycles and lightweight motorcycles.
Engines: Type BM 200cc 4T inclined, Type CM 200cc 4T vertical, Type HM 250cc 4T vertical. All were sidevalves of quite advanced design, some of which were manufactured in-house.
A 1922 sales catalogue advertised Drei Punkt models fitted with Alba engines; it is likely that Dieterle built these under licence to Alba, as he advertised them as FEM-Alba - FEM (Fahrrad-Einbau-Motore) was a brand he had registered. These were fitted to his "BM" models, eligible for tax concessions. They used his patented "exhaust-injector", which was likely a cooling device.
The CM model was fitted with an engine very similar to the Alba but was mounted vertically. Dieterle competed on this one, but not with great success.
The 1924 catalogue included the HM model using a sidevalve 250cc engine, similar in design to the CM. These were followed by the 200cc DMR and GMR, and the 250 HMR, all with short swing-arm forks, belt drive and three-speed gearboxes. These were followed in 1925 by a name change for all models - I/25, II/25 and III/25, the latter using a Dieterle 350cc SV engine.
Given the dire economic situation in the country, sales were slow, and bankruptcy proceedings were instigated in September 1925. Engine production continued until 1928, but few if any motorcycles were built in the final years.
Sources: Tragatsch p115; motor-hist-foto.de; Motopedia; motor-lit-berlin.de.
