Turicum (automobile)

Turicum AG was a Swiss manufacturer of automobiles.

History

The company was founded in 1904 by the watchmaker Martin Fischer and his partner Paul Vorbrodt. It was first produced in Zurich and from 1907 as an automotive factory Turicum AG ( Turicum: Roman name of Zurich ) Uster. Martin Fischer left the company in 1908 to produce Fischer- cars under his name.

The company had about 140 employees in 1913. The vehicles were exported around the world, there was even licensed production in France and Bohemia. Reliability and other races brought numerous successes. However, after about 1000 built vehicles, the production had to be stopped in 1914.

Rolling stock

In 1904 a foot steered prototype of a single-seater, equipped with a single-cylinder motorcycle engine, but without gears. 1905 was followed by several prototypes of the second generation. They had a friction wheel. A strung with leather friction wheel took the force at a right angle from a cast iron flywheel from. Translation and travel speed could be so varied in seven steps. 1907-1908 received Turicum of series A air-cooled single-cylinder engines with 785 cc (7 hp ) and 970 cc.

As early as 1907 there was also water-cooled four - and two-cylinder engines in 1909. The four-cylinder models ( type series B and D) had 1944 cc with 16 hp, the two-cylinder model ( series C) 972 cc with 8 hp. They were all friction wheel and then ( only four-cylinder ) optionally equipped by the end of 1911, also with gear drive and were offered in numerous different natural bodies or as a chassis.

The series A ( single cylinder ) were 1907 and 1908, the series C ( two-cylinder ) only 1909 and the type series B and D ( four-cylinder ) made ​​from 1907 to 1908 (B) and 1909 and 1912 (D).

Two vehicles of the same brand can be seen in the Museum of Transport in Lucerne, Switzerland, and two more in the Musée de l'automobile de la Fondation Pierre Gianadda in Martigny. The oldest previously known Turicum August 1907 oak chassis and watches steel round suspension is to be seen in the vehicle - Museum Bäretswil the Junod family. In total there are to this day still about a dozen Turicum known worldwide.

Turicum of 1910

Turicum of 1911

Turicum of about 1912 (supposedly in 1907 )

Turicum of about 1912 (supposedly in 1907 )

Turicum of about 1912 (supposedly in 1907 )

Licenses

Slatiňanská továrna automobilů RA Smekal from Slatiňany, then Austria - Hungary, customized vehicles for a license of Turicum.