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• Auction House:
  Donington Auctions
• Sale Name:
  Collectors' Motorcycles & Cars (New South Wales)
• Sale Date:
  12 Dec 2021 ~ 12noon (AEDT)
• Lot #:
  25
• Lot Description:
  1905 Motosacoche A1 1¼ HP 211cc - Rare example of one of the earliest motorised bicycles
  The idea of powering a pedal cycle with a motor has been extremely popular over the years, and one of the first was the Motosacoche. In 1899 two Swiss brothers, Henri and Armand Dufaux, of Geneva, took out patents for a new compact engine. This unit included a fuel tank and electrics and was completely self-contained. It was built into a tubular subframe that could be attached to a bicycle frame. A complete machine could also be supplied if the customer didn't possess a bicycle. The brothers called the concept "Une moto sac oche", or "motor in a bag." A small factory was built at Acacias, a lakeside suburb of Geneva, and by 1901 the Motosacoche, was being produced in reasonable numbers. In 1905 the Dufaux brothers left the company to concentrate on aircraft production by Motosacoche continued. As the engines increased in size the factory built complete motorcycles, and after World War 1 provided M.A.G. (Motosacoche, Acacias, Geneve) engines to a range of manufacturers, including Ariel, Brough Superior and Matchless. Subsidiary factories in Lyon and Milan supplied the French and Italian markets. Unfortunately, Motosacoche declined during the 1930s and struggled to survive the aftermath of World War 2. Their last motorcycle was sold in 1956. Motosacoche's first engine was a single cylinder four-stroke displacing 211cc. The suction operated inlet valve was typical for the time but the exhaust valve operation was less conventional. Instead of a camshaft, concentric and eccentric groves were cut into one face of an internal flywheel, with the lower end of a bell-crank lever tracking in the grooves. This was similar to a record-player arm. The engine included a Claudel-Hobson carburettor and was rated at 1¼ horsepower. As early as 1903 the Motosacoche was exported to the UK, with a subsidiary company H&A Dufaux (England) Limited established at 65 Holborn Viaduct, London. Both clip-on attachments and complete powered bicycles were available, and the Motosacoche was advertised as being able to take a 12-stone (76kg) rider up a one in 10 gradient without the need for pedal assistance. In 1908 Bosch magneto ignition replaced the coil and accumulator type ignition. The British subsidiary led to a collaboration with Royal Enfield who used a Motosacoche V-twin engine when they recommenced motorcycle manufacture in 1910. The Royal Enfield and Motosacoche ranges were effectively identical for the next few years. Extremely rare, this lightweight veteran motorcycle this 1905 example is fitted with an EIC (Electric Ignition Company, Birmingham) neatly mounted directly behind the cylinder and chain driven from the crankshaft. It has front and rear rim brakes, and comes with bulb horn, Brooks saddle and "doctor's bag" strapped to its rear carrier. The previous number plate reads ZF 12-58. This motorcycle is being sold unregistered.
• Estimate:
  A$15,000 - 20,000
• Realised Price:
  $0.00
• Category:
  Automobiles & Accessories

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.