• The first series-produced motorcycle
• Purchased by the vendor's late father over 50 years ago
• Appears unrestored and highly original
• Requires recommissioning

There had been steam-driven 'boneshakers' on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1860s and Gottlieb Daimler's gasoline-powered Einspur of 1885, but the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller was the first mass-produced motorcycle. Although a true motorcycle, Daimler's was merely a test-bed for his high-revving engine before he shifted focus to automobiles.

The Hildebrand brothers, Heinrich and Wilhelm, initially experimented with steam power before partnering with Alois Wolfmüller and Hans Geisenhof to develop a gasoline engine. Their next design, a water-cooled, four-stroke parallel twin of 1,488cc, was one of the largest motorcycle engines for years. Mounted in a reinforced bicycle frame, it was patented in January 1894 under the name 'motorrad.'

The motorcycle had an unconventional design, with long connecting rods linking the pistons directly to the rear wheel, eliminating the need for a crankshaft flywheel. A surface carburetor fed fuel to the cylinders, ignited by Daimler's platinum hot tube method. The rear mudguard served as a water reservoir, and the frame housed the oil tank. It was also the first motorcycle fitted with pneumatic tires, licensed from Dunlop.

Despite its modern innovations, the H&W was crude in some respects, especially its weak brakes and lack of a clutch, requiring the rider to push-start it. With only 2.5bhp at 240rpm, it could reach nearly 30mph—an impressive feat at the time.

A patent for the design was granted in January 1894 and a new company formed in Munich: Motofahrrad-Fabrik Hildebrand & Wolfmüller. The H&W's announcement was greeted with considerable enthusiasm and plans were drawn up to build a factory on the Colosseum Strasse in Munich to produce it. In the meantime, numerous small workshops manufactured parts for the machine, which was also licensed to the firm of Duncan, Superbie et Cie for manufacture at its plant in Croissy, France where it would be marketed as 'La Petrolette'. Six Petrolettes were exhibited at the first Paris Motor Salon held in December 1895 and by 1896 some 50-or-so had been delivered.

Seeking to promote its new product, the company had despatched two machines to Italy in May 1895 to take part in a combined car/motorcycle race from Turin to Asti and back. Ridden by Wolfmüller himself and a local motoring enthusiast, Giovanni-Battista Ceirano, they finished in 2nd and 3rd places respectively, beaten only by a Daimler car. Despite this impressive performance the H&W's shortcomings were cruelly exposed in the next race, the prestigious Paris-Bordeaux-Paris event from which both retired at half-distance, and matters worsened still further once deliveries to paying customers commenced. The crudity of the hot tube ignition meant that starting was difficult and, once under way, progress was erratic because of the rear wheel's poor flywheel effect. Duncan, Superbie et Cie lost a court case against a dissatisfied customer whereupon many others promptly demanded their money back. Early in 1897 both the German and French ventures collapsed. Opinion differs with regard to how many machines were produced, figures ranging from as low as 800 to as high as 2,000 being quoted. Needless to say, survivors are exceedingly rare, though there are examples in some important collections including the Deutsches Zweirad-Museum in Neckarsulm, Germany, the Science Museum in London, England, the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, Michigan, USA and the Lower Rhine Motorcycle Museum in Moers-Asberg, Germany.

This example was acquired by the Italian private vendor's late father more than 50 years ago from a private individual, but without any invoices or documents. The number '129' is stamped to various parts, including the riveted top lower engine cover; belt pulley; oil adjuster; and drive crank, while the opposite belt pulley is stamped '154.' A "Standard" saddle is fitted.

The machine appears unrestored, though new tyres have been fitted at some point. Its mechanical condition is not known and the machine will require recommissioning to a greater or lesser extent before being used. (It should be noted that the air intake for the igniter flame is missing.) There is a wonderful video of the motorcycle being ridden many years ago, which may be viewed on the Bonhams web site, although it is not known when it was made.
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