Martini (automobile company)
Martini (1897-1934) was the most important and most successful Swiss passenger car factory. In the 37 years of its existence, around 3,500 vehicles were produced.
The operation went from the Swiss by the designer and inventor Friedrich out of Martini 1860 in Frauenfeld, Canton of Thurgau, founded Maschinenfabrik F. Martini & Co., a company that initially bookbinding and textile machinery, from 1869 mainly rifles ( Martini -Henry socks) produced. On 1 July 1897, the company is called " joint-stock company formerly F. Martini & Co. " entered.
History
Adolph and Max Martini, the sons of Friedrich von Martini, introduced from 1897 in rapid succession passenger cars on the market. Her first own model, an open truck with two-cylinder rear engine, which is still strongly reminiscent of designs by Carl Benz was in 1898 improved. 1899 was followed by type 3 with front engine. 1901 she developed type 4, a car with 10 hp, which also served as the basis for a first truck. In 1902 she had two new V- four cylinder with 10 and 16 hp in the program and went in the same year a licensing agreement with the French manufacturer Rochet -Schneider a, whose system modeled on the Mercedes Simplex 14/18 hp model they replicas. Strong sales of these cars encouraged the expansion of production capacities.
For this purpose was erected in 1903 in Saint -Blaise in Neuchâtel a modern factory plant. For the rapidly growing workforce were built near the plant a settlement two-storey houses with gardens, inhabited as listed " Cité Martini" today. The engines were still produced until 1917 in Frauenfeld.
New plant in western Switzerland
Auto racing and other athletic contests played an important role in the marketing of its own products at Martini. The applicable as long and as quickly Martinis won numerous notable successes and made the brand famous abroad. 1905 had been a considerable range of models on offer: 4-cylinder engine in strengths of 16, 20, 25 and 40 hp in several body variants, up to finished karossierten from pure chassis open Phaeton limousines and semi or fully closed. It produced not only for the limited domestic market, but exported to France, England, yes to North and South America, New Zealand, Canada, Russia and Egypt. With the English importer H.H.P. Deasy was an investor be won, which made by sensational publicity campaigns for the brand.
Deasy took up several record runs, including a ride on funicular rails, the 2045 m high Rochers -de- Naye Montreux, a distance of no less than seven miles at part 23 % sodium gradient, achieved by his 14 HP Martini faster than the mountain railway itself another promotion consisted of a reliability test 3000 km across the Alps, over 34 passes in France, Italy and Switzerland, and a total altitude difference of 37,000 meters away.
In a bet against Rolls- Royce ( "Battle of the Cylinders " - 4.000 miles / 4 -cyl Martini against six-cylinder Rolls- Royce ) Deasy subject however.
First crisis
The year 1910 brought the first losses. Although a total of 260 cars were produced and sold through its own sales companies in Paris, Berlin, London, Madrid, Lisbon and New York - deserves one had declined only slightly, as it was still being produced in by hand. Added to this was the unexpected bankruptcy of their own bank. Constantly in search of new capital, Martini was renamed several times around, fell into British ( Martini Automobile Co. Ltd.. ), French, and then again in Swiss hands, was finally converted into " New Martini automobile society " while Adolph and Max Martini the companies had already left.
By 1914, a slightly streamlined model was further built (including three different people, two trucks and a small bus ). This modest gains were achieved again. During the First World War, the order situation improved considerably, and the annual production of Martini reached 1917 approximately 350 vehicles climax.
1919 the company got back into heavy turbulence, since large -scale manufacturers such as Fiat, Ford and Citroën offered much cheaper. Martini in the meantime it was neither possible to develop interesting new products, nor to rationalize its production. By 1925, they stuck with a single model over water, the Touring Car TF, a slightly modified version of the old 18/24 hp four-cylinder engine from the year 1913. Whereas most foreign competitors already twice as strong, much faster and more completely karossierte six-cylinder unit prices offered by 14,000 francs, 17,000 francs demanded Martini alone for the chassis its outdated four-cylinder version. The end of the renowned brand seemed already sealed.
Steiger Martini
In 1924, a surprising turn, as it the brothers Walter and Robert Steiger managed to take over the majority of shares in Martini. Both came from the family of companies located in Ulm Swiss textile manufacturer ( Steiger & Deschler ) and not only had capital but also have experience in the automotive industry. Walther Steiger, who established in the Württemberg Burgrieden since 1920 acclaimed passenger cars, the technical management took over at Martini.
In 1926 the newly designed model " Martini Six, type FU" was presented at the Geneva Motor Show, a comfortable touring car with 3.1 liter six- cylinder engine developing 70 hp (51 kW). The large, reliable touring sedan is more than 100 km / h and has an electric starter and a force acting on all four wheels vacuum brake assistance, as well as a vacuum fuel feed system.
In 1927 presented Martini in the types FUG and FUS a new 4.4 -liter six-cylinder engine with Zenith carburettors, central lubrication and high-speed drive, the ( 66-73 kW) between 90 and 100 hp, and even the heavy Pullman versions on up to 130 km / h speeds. In addition to coupes and convertibles spacious, four - to six -seat sedans and Landaulets were offered in various designs. Most of these luxurious cars were spanned at Georges Gangloff in Geneva. With the same engine, on a long, reinforced base, are presented also manufactures a small series trucks and dump trucks, vans and taxis, ambulances and buses.
Export
In 1928 Martini in Munich a sales office in Germany, where the Martini -Six using the good name that the risers automobiles had acquired, than 17 /100 PS Steiger Martini was offered. As known from the hood ornament Steiger ago Capricorn served from their own family crest.
Motorsport
After years of break, the company devoted again the development and maintenance of special racing versions. With powerful, fast touring car and roadster variants specially manufactured factory and privateer took part in many car racing.
Famous names such Monard, Gacon, Caspar, Giger and Berli brought against strong international competition again ranks first for the Swiss brand. Truly sensational won four martinis in 1929 at the International Klausenrennen, who was then the toughest hill climb in Europe.
Gradual end
Despite great efforts, you never came up with the costly production but in profitable regions and did not reach the sales targets. The car then rather hostile laws of Switzerland, increasing competitive pressure from abroad and the impact of the Great Depression wore the your help. The attempt with the 1930-1932 manufactured under license German Wanderer W11 model ( KM Martini, 6 - cylinder, 50 hp) to reach the profit zone failed. The project is an inexpensive, modern concept of front-wheel drive remained for financial reasons already stuck in the planning phase.
From 1932 to 1934 greatly reduced workforce built a few dozen of the revised, large 4.4 liter sedans ( now as Martini NF) on. With an output of 95 hp, synchronized 4 -speed transmission, low-frame construction, Lockheed brakes and hydraulic shock absorbers presented the NF is a modern and luxurious vehicle that is one of its outstanding quality without question to the world class. But this model also could not save the company. On 12 June 1934, the factory gates were closed forever.
Several museums and private collections remaining, excellently preserved Martini cars still bear witness to the high standard of this once famous Swiss brand.
The trademark rights were acquired by the Müller- Martini Holding in 1990 by entrepreneur Peter EM Schudel and the Institute for Intellectual Property, Berne, registered for vehicles on land, at sea and in the air. Efforts are being made, with a revolutionary Ökoautomobil to revive the MARTINI brand again.