Werner Motors

Werner Brothers[1]

The Werner Brothers Motobicyclette of 1904
Manufacturer Werner Frères et Cie
Production Paris, France, 1898 MMC England
Engine 216 cc (13.2 cu in), air-cooled, four-stroke, single-cylinder
Fuel capacity Fuel was of 0.680 specific gravity

The Werner Brothers Michel and Eugene were French nationality but originally from Russia. They started to experiment with moto bicycles (Moto Bicyclette) in 1896. They are credited with the first use of the word "Moto Bicyclette" in 1897.[2]

History

Motocyclette advertisement from 1900

The attempt to use a De Dion-Bouton engine in a bicycle frame in 1896 resulted in failure. But in 1897 they succeeded in creating a moto bicycle called the Motocyclette with the engine mounted on the front steering head that achieved some success.

The most significant success in moto bicycle design came in 1900 with the New Werner which used a patented frame design in which the engine is mounted at the bottom of the frame. By this time the company was also making their own engines rather than buying them from De Dion-Bouton as had been the case previously.[1]

Werner was also the first or one of the first to produce a moto bicycle with a two cylinder vertical twin engine in 1903 with a capacity of 500 cc.[2]

Werner licensed Motor Manufacturing Company in England to sell their line of motorcycles.[1]

When both brothers died in 1908 the company failed.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Werner Motors". The Best of British Engineering 1750–1960s. Graces Guide. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Motos Francaises, Werner Brothers Moto Bicyclettes.
  3. ↑ 1904 Werner motorcycle

External links