Hildebrand & Wolfmüller
Encyclopedia
The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller was the world's first production motorcycle
. Heinrich and Wilhelm Hidebrand were steam-engine engineers before Alois Wolfmüller agreed to finance them to produce their internal combustion Motorrad in Munich
in 1894.
s (a similar arrangement to that of steam locomotives). There was no flywheel
other than the rear wheel, and it needed heavy rubber bands to provide the return impulse.
The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller patent of 20 January 1894, No. 78553 describes a 1489 cc two-cylinder, four-stroke engine, with a bore and stroke of 90 millimetre. It produced 1.9 kW @ 240 rpm propelling a weight of 50 kg (110.2 lb) up to a maximum speed of 45 km/h (28 mph).
Examples exist today in the Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum
in Neckarsulm
, Germany, the Science Museum
in London, The Henry Ford
in Detroit, Michigan
, the Wells Auto Museum in Wells, Maine
, and the Museum Lalu Lintas in Surabaya
, Indonesia.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
. Heinrich and Wilhelm Hidebrand were steam-engine engineers before Alois Wolfmüller agreed to finance them to produce their internal combustion Motorrad in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in 1894.
Mechanical Details
The motorcycle featured a water-cooled engine (the coolant tank/radiator of which is prominent over and around the rear wheel) mounted in a purpose-designed tubular frame. The rear wheel was directly driven from the connecting rodConnecting rod
In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or conrod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. Together with the crank, they form a simple mechanism that converts linear motion into rotating motion....
s (a similar arrangement to that of steam locomotives). There was no flywheel
Flywheel
A flywheel is a rotating mechanical device that is used to store rotational energy. Flywheels have a significant moment of inertia, and thus resist changes in rotational speed. The amount of energy stored in a flywheel is proportional to the square of its rotational speed...
other than the rear wheel, and it needed heavy rubber bands to provide the return impulse.
The Hildebrand & Wolfmüller patent of 20 January 1894, No. 78553 describes a 1489 cc two-cylinder, four-stroke engine, with a bore and stroke of 90 millimetre. It produced 1.9 kW @ 240 rpm propelling a weight of 50 kg (110.2 lb) up to a maximum speed of 45 km/h (28 mph).
Examples exist today in the Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum
Deutsches Zweirad- und NSU-Museum
The Deutsche Zweirad- und NSU-Museum in Neckarsulm, Germany has a collection of historic motorcycles and bicycles in a five-story split-level building dating to 13th Century...
in Neckarsulm
Neckarsulm
Neckarsulm is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg, Germany, near Stuttgart, and part of the district Heilbronn. As of 2004, Neckarsulm had 27,296 inhabitants....
, Germany, the Science Museum
Science Museum (London)
The Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction....
in London, The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford
The Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark, , in the Metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, USA, is a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex...
in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, the Wells Auto Museum in Wells, Maine
Wells, Maine
Wells is a town in York County, Maine, United States. Founded in 1643, it is the third-oldest town in Maine. The population was 9,400 at the 2000 census. Wells Beach is a popular summer destination.-History:...
, and the Museum Lalu Lintas in Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
, Indonesia.