Hildebrand & Wolfmüller
The Hildebrand & Wolf Müller from 1894 was the first production motorcycle in the world; the Daimler riding car of 1885 was a test vehicle for the engine and remained a one-off.
- 3.1 Motorcycles Received
- 3.2 replicas
Prehistory
1887, the cycling enthusiasts Henry Hildebrand ( 1855-1928 ), the magazine wheeled Chronicle; In 1889 he designed together with his brother William a boost controller, which did not bring the hoped- for success Hildebrand. The model was further developed and in 1893 it was possible to find a buyer in Paris for the only copy. This took on 14 November 1896 the number 18 in the " Emancipation Run" after canceling the Red Flag Act in part. The boost controller is now in England, where it is on display in the London Science Museum.
1892 Hildebrand instructed the engineer Alois Wolf Müller with the elaboration of a motorcycle with a petrol engine by Daimler. Wolf Müller, who worked in Mannheim among others Duerkopp in Bielefeld and Carl Benz, committed his childhood friend and engineer Hans Geisenhof and Ludwig rape and Johann Strömel as employees.
Development
End of 1893, the development was completed and built a first prototype for testing. The prototype, which is in the possession of the German Museum today said to have been built for 430 gold marks. In the first try, even with a two-stroke engine tandem, there was injured. The mechanic Strömel forgot to secure the connecting bolt with a cotter pin. The out -floating piston cut off his arm.
On 10 January 1894, the first test run and on 18 and 19 January 1894 there was launched the first test drives in Bamberg, where Wolfmüller and Geisenhof had their workshop. " Here, the bike was indeed smooth, but backwards". End of January 1894 was the motorcycle, under the driver Geisenhof, a continuous run on " 100 rounds at the Landsberger Allee " in Munich.
In the patent of January 20, 1894 (DRP 78553 ) the two-wheeler with petroleum is referred to as a " motorcycle ". The patent was granted for the engineers Alois Wolf Müller and Hans Geisenhof. The motorcycle factory took on March 1, 1894 in Munich, Colosseumstraße 1, to operate on.
The water-cooled engine [note 4] was housed in a four- tube frame whose design was later adopted by Alfred Angas Scott in his first Model 3 3/4. The front had spoked with Veith tubular tire has a diameter of 26 inches, the rear wheel consisted of a 22 - inch metal flywheel, the Veith - tube tires were fitted with metal studs as a profile. Controlling the exhaust valves (12.7 mm diameter ) was attached to the a rear hub cam, so that the long push rods and deflection hook lever actuated the rocker arm. The intake valves were designed as sniffing valves. The connecting rods of the engine acted directly on the rear acting as a crankshaft. Adjustable rubber bands brought back the rod. Although it is generally asserted that there is no piston retraction spring as a component of reciprocating engines, the rubber bands the Hildebrand & Wolf Müller had this feature. Behind the front enamel sign was located the air filter for the air intake ( suction and return pipe ) of the burner of the hot tube ignition. Behind it was the control valve for the surface carburetor, who possessed check strainers and float.
The rear fender was used as a water tank of the Thermosiphonkühlung, the oil tank was located in the front frame tubes, a design detail which again held until 50 years later entered the motorcycle technology. At the front, a bicycle usual block brake was available, the rear wheel was unrestrained. Amazing From today's perspective was an emergency means of spur as a brake anchor. The promotional brochure from 1894 explains:
To start had to be preheated, the "candle" the hot-tube ignition, then the bike was pushed and stops the fuel supply is cut off with a lever on the right handlebar end.
Dissemination
As Hildebrand & Wolf Müller could produce up to five workshops that its parts numbered separately, a specific number of motorcycles built is not known. Rauck is 800-2000 piece of Spies, the number of 930 copies built seems too high, and Alois Wolf Müller was in the 1929 ADAC a number of 350 to 400 at. Eight to ten motorcycles are supposed to have a day left the factory in the first year. At its peak, the company had 850 workers and 50 employees in four branch factories. Licenses were awarded to France to Duncan & Suberbie & Cie in Croissy - there was the Hildebrand & Wolf Müller offered under the name Pétrolette - Werksvertretungen there was Europe. The prices were 850-1200 Goldmark. When ordering 300 Goldmark payment had to be made ; the waiting time was up to delivery three months.
Car Reviews
Customers (who complete a training course had to ) criticized the jerky engine running at low speeds, the flammable hot-tube ignition and insufficient surface carburetor, who felt most at home in the warm season.
Spies writes: "The bike was interesting, as an everyday vehicle, however, unfit as a toy ."
End of production
The decisive factor for the decline of the motorcycle factory and the first mass-produced motorcycle were the technical shortcomings and ultimately the competition from France. The bikes from De Dion -Bouton were more advanced, the Hildebrand & Wolf Müller with her rigid drive was by design not viable. Production ended in October 1895, bankruptcy proceedings were opened on November 2, 1895. The French licensee also reported at the end of 1895 bankruptcy. Hildebrand succeeded well delay the bankruptcy by the end of 1897. Wolf Müller resigned on 19 May 1897 from the company and on July 27, 1897 Hildebrand announced yet another patent. Wolf Müller constructed after a new model with a stationary cylinder engine, shaft drive, and clutch. The patent model from October 5, 1899, filed about his father, was never built.
Motorcycles received
Eight Hildebrand & Wolf Müller motorcycles are available in Germany, to the prototype by 1893. Exhibited Hildebrand & Wolf Müller motorcycles are in Deutsches Museum in Munich, the German two-wheeler and NSU - Museum to visit in Neckarsulm and in the motorcycle museum at Schloss Augustusburg.
The auction house Bonhams auctioned at the " International Classic Motorcycle Show " in Stafford on 25 April 2010 an originally preserved Hildebrand & Wolf Müller, the last to have run around 1930. The auction achieved £ 86,200 (~ € 104,000 ).
Replicas
The brothers Thomas and Michael Fritz body built the Hildebrand & Wolf Müller claimed in small numbers. Another small series was launched by Mike Kron.