Photo ou archives : D. Ganneau
1114
GEORGIA KNAP
250cc Type C - 1904
A dilettante's design
Born in Troyes, France, Marie-Georges-Henri Knap built his first automobile in 1898, at the age of 32. Soon after, he tired of the automobile, and devoted himself to developing a "motocyclette" along original lines.
Novel Transmission
Transmitting the power to the wheel was the stumbling block of many a constructor at the time. Neither belts nor chains were truly satisfactory, and Knap decided that he would place his trust in gears by mounting the engine alongside the rear wheel (as on a modern Vespa!). His Type A appeared in 1902, but its unorthodoxy, even in those nonconformist days, was a barrier to commercial success. People took Knap rather more seriously when he began winning races in 1903.
Insatiable Curiosity
As he went on, Knap refined his idea, notably with this Model C, four times more powerful than that of 1902. But Knap had an insatiable curiosity, and abandoned production of his motocyclette in 1905 to plunge into new projects. In 1906 he built an "electrical house", then got involved with cellular biology, and was involved in public housing projects even before the war of 1914. After that, the trail of this inspired inventor goes cold, and only two examples of his motorcycles are known to survive.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 250cc single-cylinder four-stroke; trembler coil ignition
Power Rating: 2 hp @ 1800 rpm
Valves: automatic inlet valve
Fuel System: surface carburetor
Transmission: gear drive to rear wheel
Suspension: oscillating fork (front); rigid (rear)
Brakes: friction shoe on the tire (front); rim brake (rear)
Wheels: wire clincher
Weight: 106 lb
Maximum Speed: 28-50 mph (depending on final drive ratio)
One of only two surviving Georgia Knap motorcycles, this 1904 Type C shows its builder's novel method of mounting the engine to drive the wheel by pinion gears.