Cito bicycle factory

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Cito-Fahrradwerke A.-G.
legal form Corporation
founding 1896
Seat Cologne - Sülz , Germany
Branch Bicycle manufacturer , automobile manufacturer

Cito motorcycle
with two seats

The Cito-Fahrradwerke A.-G. was a bicycle , motorcycle and automobile manufacturer based in Cologne-Sülz .

history

In addition to Allright , the company "Cito" was Cologne's most important pioneering company in two-wheel construction; it was founded in 1896. The company placed particular emphasis on innovative product development, such as the “Mikron” pedal gear, which was virtually maintenance-free thanks to its innovative ring ball bearings. In 1899 the company was converted into a public limited company. In 1900 "Cito" presented a motor vehicle, and in 1902 the future production of motor two-wheelers was announced, of which prototypes had already been developed. The engines for the motorcycles with the designation “Fafnir” were obtained by “Cito” from the Aachen steel works. Cito also made the omnimobile .

The automobile production of "Cito" was stopped in 1910 due to unprofitability, and in the following years the company concentrated on the construction of bicycles and motorcycles. During the First World War , products were made for the Reichswehr. A new motorcycle model went into production from 1919. In 1922, the "Cito-Fahrradwerke" merged with the Thuringian company Krieger-Gnädig , but the following year it came to an end due to the galloping inflation . "Cito" was taken over by the Cologne-Lindenthaler Metallwerke . Its main shareholder, "Rheinische Handelsgesellschaft", sold the "Cito" site on Luxemburger Strasse in Cologne-Sülz to Daimler-Benz . Some Cito models continued to be built under the “Allright” brand.

Products

In 1905, the production of motorcycles with Fafnir built-in engines was started. From 1906 passenger cars were also built.

The Citomobil had a two-cylinder engine block by Fafnir installed in front, consisting of 704 cc of a capacity of 6-8 horsepower (4.4 to 5.9 kW) at 1800 min -1 scooped. The engine power was passed on to the differential-less rear axle via a leather cone clutch and a three-speed gearbox. The two- or four-seat touring car had a wheelbase of 2250 mm, an empty weight of 400 kg and reached a top speed of 50 km / h.

1907 this car was the Model A replaced. Meanwhile, two-cylinder engine of Aster had a displacement of 1648 cc and provided 14 hp (10.3 kW) at 1400 min -1 , which via a cardan shaft were transmitted to the rear wheels. The wheelbase of the four-seater Phaeton was 2750 mm and this 8/16 hp car was 60 km / h fast.

Vehicles with 6/10 HP, 10/16 HP and 15/24 HP were also built. Due to a lack of sales, automobile production at Cito was stopped in 1909.

literature

  • Horst Nordmann, Fritz Hahn, Mika Hahn: Kölsche two-wheeled stories. Pioneers, racing drivers, destinies. Rheinischer Mobilia-Verlag, Kleinenbroich 2003, ISBN 3-00-011139-5 , p. 60ff.
  • Halwart Schrader : German cars. Volume 1: 1885-1920. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-613-02211-7 , pp. 98-100.

Web links

Commons : Cito-Fahrradwerke  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files