Photo ou archives : D. Ganneau
4713
WALTER
750 Type B -1905
A tale of four factories
Josef Walter was a motorcycle manufacturing pioneer in the ancient Austrian crownland of Bohemia (which was incorporated into the new republic of Czechoslovakia in 1918). He began by making pedal cycles in the Prague suburb of Smichov in 1898.
Powered Beginnings
The company's move to a larger factory in 1902 brought about the first powered two-wheeler, the 350cc Model A single. The Model B V-twin followed in 1905, soon after growing demand had forced another move into bigger premises at Na Zatlance (Prague-Smichov).
From Two Wheels to Three to Four
Production grew rapidly: 15 motorcycles were built in 1903 and 30 in 1905. Walter motorcycles enjoyed considerable success, and in 1907, Josef Walter turned from belt to chain final drive, an advanced feature for the period. Walter catered to customers who wanted to carry a passenger but did not want sidecars or trailers. So he developed a three-wheeler with side-by-side, car-type seating in 1908 and put it into production in 1909. It had a motorcycle type front fork steered by a long tiller and a V-twin engine ahead of the footboard. A fourseater version came later. ln 1911, Walter built another factory at Prague-Jinonice. He began building automobiles in 1912, when annual output had risen to 50 motorcycles and 80 three-wheelers. Motorcycle manufacturing was suspended and production of three-wheelers ended, in 1914, when the design was bought by the Sibrava company, which made Walter-type tricars in its Prague factory until1924. In 1914, the Walter factory turned out 50 threewheelers and 60 automobiles.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: 751cc (75x85mm) air-cooled V-twin four-stroke
Power Rating: 4 hp
Valves: automatic intake, side exhaust
Fuel System: carburetor
Transmission: direct belt drive
Suspension: rigid (front & rear)
Brakes: contracting band (rear)
Wheels: 26x3 inch clincher (front & rear)
Weight: 143 lb
Maximum Speed: 45 mph
Josef Walter's 1905 V-twin was an extremely reliable design, which gained the advanced feature of chain drive in 1907.