HILDEBRAND & WOLFMÃœLLER

1500cc "Motorrad" -1894

First motorcycle built in series

The Hildebrand & Wolfmuller of 1894 was the world's first production motorcycle. But it originated in 1889, when brothers Henry and Wilhelm Hildebrand built a steam motorcycle. When that proved impractical, the brothers joined up with Alois Wolfuller in 1892 to build a two-stroke machine. Their third motorcycle was radically different, since it was driven by a twin-cylinder four-stroke.

Special Tubular Frame

Since a standard bicycle frame was unsuitable, Hildebrand & Wolfmuller designed a tubular frame to house their parallel-twin engine. While their factory was being built, workshops all over their home town of Munich, Germany were building components against a claimed back stock of orders worth 2 million marks.

Enter the Petrolette

H & W launched their "Motorrad" in France in 1894, and the cycle flrm of Duncan & Suberbie decided to acquire the manufacturing license. Since France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 was still deeply felt, the machine's German origins were camouflaged with a new name: "Petrolette." The machine was a star of the very first Paris Motor Show in 1895, and prospective agents were invited to watch a demonstration. The bike was hastily prepared, the front brake wasn't fltted, the throttle stuck open, and rider and machine flew into a lake. The first 50 Petrolettes had been delivered by 1896, but the machines proved difficult to start and Duncan & Suberbie ceased production. The Munich factory followed suit in 1897.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 148&c (90x117mm) water-cooled parallel-twin four-stroke; hot tube ignition, elastic strap to help piston movement.

Power Rating: 2.5 hp @ 240 rpm

Valves: automatic intake, mechanical exhaust, in side-valve chest

Fuel System: surface (vaporizing) carburetor

Transmission: direct by conrods to sun-and planet gear on rear wheel spindle

Brakes: friction shoe on front tire; emergency brake by spike forced against road surface

Wheels: pneumatic; 26 inch (front); 22 inch (rear)

Weight: 132 lb

Maximum Speed: 25 mph

Conrods are directly mounted on rear wheel axis, there is no inertia flywheel and elastic straps are fitted to help the pistons movement!