Megu

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Megu Metall- und Gußwarenhandels-Ges.mbH
legal form Company with limited liability
founding before 1958
resolution 2005
Reason for dissolution Death of the partner (2003)
Seat Vienna , Austria
management Ragnar Mathéy
Branch Leisure articles , automobile manufacturers
As of February 26, 2017

The Megu metal and Gußwarenhandels-Ges.mbH just Megu was an Austrian company and manufacturer of motor vehicles .

Company history

The history of the Viennese company Megu to reach at least in the 1950s and ended back in 2005. It is closely linked with that of Berlin coming entrepreneurs and lawyers Ragnar Mathéy (1920-2003); he acquired it in 1958 and continued to hold a managerial position until his death.

Before 1958

When, where and by whom Megu Metall- und Gußwarenhandels-Ges.mbH was founded is not known. The company with limited liability according to Austrian law was originally concerned with the trade in metal and cast goods; however, it did not make any notable appearance before 1958.

The later owner Ragnar Mathéy, whose parents came from Transylvania or the Swedish nobility , had already gained entrepreneurial experience in various areas by 1958. From 1947 to 1958 he worked for the truck manufacturer Österreichische Saurerwerke in Vienna, including eight years as general secretary at the headquarters in Vienna and two years as general agent for large parts of Europe. From 1948 to 1953 he was also the tenant of the Austrian part of the Neusiedlersee , where he commercially mined reeds ; He thus got hold of the foreign currency that was so popular in post-war Austria .

As early as the early 1950s, he was marketing motor scooters in Vienna , in particular the Lohner brands (built from 1950) and Kosty (only built in 1952), thus contributing to the beginning of mass motorization in Austria. He financially supported the development and construction of the Kauba Lux scooter (built 1953 to 1956) by the Austrian aircraft and scooter pioneer Otto Kauba . With the motor scooter Bobby , which was a further development of the Kauba Lux 98 and was only produced individually in 1955 and 1956, Mathéy even appeared as a designer himself .

He also designed one of the first Austrian electric automobiles , without any economic success .

From 1958

When the motor scooter boom also ended in Austria, Mathéy acquired the already existing Viennese trading company Megu in 1958 . From 1958, the range also included automotive accessories; Mathéy took over the distribution of safety belts of the Klippan brand exclusively via Megu for Austria and exclusively for Bavaria via the similarly oriented Perohaus in Munich .

At times, the Megu company also appeared as a motor vehicle manufacturer. The vehicles were created in cooperation with the two other companies Wilhelm Gesierich, Mechanische Werkstätte from Karmaschgasse 17 in the 10th Viennese district of Favoriten and Dr. Mathey vehicle construction from Haslau in Lower Austria . The brand name was Megu . At that time the headquarters were at Neustiftgasse 40 in Vienna's 7th district, Neubau . The information on the production period fluctuates considerably. According to two sources, automobile production only took place in 1967. Another source gives the period from 1958 to 1974. Another source gives the period from 1966 to 1972. From the 2000s at the latest, the headquarters were at Grundsteingasse 12 in Vienna's 16th district, Ottakring .

It is not known exactly on what day the company was dissolved. According to the saved versions of the company's website, it was still active on December 23, 2004 and disbanded on November 3, 2005.

The connections to Megu GesmbH and Megu Handels- & Werbe GmbH , which were registered with the same address and the same telephone and fax number, are unclear . When online shop on the website, the name is also Megu Handels & Werbe GmbH called. This company had the company number FN 85321 Y and the ATU number 14669900. It had existed since at least 1997 since annual accounts for 1997 were filed. After the departure of the authorized signatory Stefanie Schulz on July 31, 1999, Ragnar Mathéy represented the company alone - until his death on February 9, 2003. On September 6, 2006, it was dissolved due to lack of property.

Products

vehicles

The range of the Megu brand included the models Mopetta , Student , Boy and Dienstmann . They were tricycles with a rear single wheel. The vehicles were powered by an engine from the Puch works with a capacity of 50 cm³ .

The model Mopetta was in a car design as city and intercity car called, was well as vans available. The front, including the windshield and roof, was striking . To get on and off the front, including the moped-like handlebar, was turned to the side. The laterally open body offered space for two people in a row; the driver sat far in front, directly above the front axle. A convertible top was available for an extra charge. Instead of a second seat, the delivery van had a loading area behind the driver. Both the car and the delivery van cost 19,800 Austrian Schillings and the convertible top 1,500 Schillings. In this model, the engine developed 3.5 HP (2.6 kW ) and was connected to a three-speed gearbox. One source sees a similarity to the Norsjö Shopper from Lennartsfors .

The student was designed similarly and only available to order. The driver's seat was further back, mounted between the axles and the wheelbase of the chassis was shorter. Behind the driver there was a saddle for one passenger at an additional cost. Was steered by means of a steering wheel . The engine developed only 2.3 HP (1.7 kW). The vehicle cost 15,800 schillings with a three-speed shift. Automatic transmission cost 600 schillings extra and the saddle for the passenger 200 schillings.

The Boy was similar to the Student in terms of seating arrangement, steering and motorization , but had the regular wheelbase of the Mopetta models. There was a low platform at the front of the vehicle for goods transport (a loading platform without side walls); If required, a box with a lid could be mounted at the front. The price for the chassis corresponded to the student . The box cost 1000 shillings extra. The second seat was also available at an additional cost. This model was also only available to order.

The service man was based on the Mopetta model . It was designed as a tractor-trailer with a significantly shorter wheelbase . The length of the semi-trailer was selectable. The total price was given as 22,800 schillings. This model was also only available to order.

Technically, all Megu models were closely related to the Mopetta cargo scooter three-wheeler . This also had a front loading platform for goods transport, but dispensed with the front paneling with windshield, headlights and roof; the moped-like tubular steel frame of the load scooter was also not covered with body panels. The Mopetta Cargo Boy was the sole development of Gesierich from around 1960/61, who was also solely responsible for the construction until 1972; Megu only took over the distribution, whereby the price of 12,800 Schillings in 1971 was 3,000 Schillings cheaper than the Megu Boy with front paneling and roof.

A Megu Mopetta was since 1999 in the collection RRR - ScootersMIBO Mobile rarities in the nostalgic world Eggenburg in Lower Austria Eggenburg issued, was sold to them along with other collection pieces on 10 July 2020th

Other articles

Leisure items were also on offer . This included awnings for caravans , tents , other camping accessories and products for anglers and hunters. The mobile home expansion was also offered.

literature

  • Chris Rees : Three Wheelers A – Z. The definitive encyclopedia of three-wheeled vehicles from 1940 to date. Quiller Print, Croydon 2013, ISBN 978-0-9926651-0-4 , pp. 122-123. (English)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Advertisement for the vehicles (accessed on July 18, 2020).
  2. ↑ a b Chris Rees: Three Wheelers A – Z. The definitive encyclopedia of three-wheeled vehicles from 1940 to date. Quiller Print, Croydon 2013, ISBN 978-0-9926651-0-4 , pp. 122-123. (English).
  3. ↑ a b c d Auction catalog for a Megu Mopetta from around 1970 on the occasion of the auction of the RRR - Roller Rollermobile rarities collection on July 10, 2020 with background information on the company on the web portal of the auction house dorotheum.com , accessed on July 18, 2020.
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Biography of Ragnar Mathéy on the kaiserinsisi.at web portal , accessed on February 26, 2017.
  5. ↑ a b Bibliographical information on Ragnar Mathéy on the kaiserinsisi.at web portal , accessed on March 3, 2017.
  6. ↑ a b c Günther Uhlirz, NG Mylius, in: Austroclassic (magazine), "HMW Fuchs auxiliary motor" , accessed on March 3, 2017.
  7. ↑ The scooter manufacturer Lohner on the web portal rollerwelt.org , accessed on March 3, 2017.
  8. ↑ The scooter brand Kosty on the web portal rollerwelt.org , accessed on 3 March 2017th
  9. ↑ The scooter manufacturer Kauba on the web portal rollerwelt.org , accessed on March 3, 2017.
  10. ↑ The scooter brand Bobby on the web portal rollerwelt.org , accessed on March 3, 2017.
  11. ↑ Information on the Mathéy - Klippan - Perohaus business relationship on the moneyhouse.de web portal , accessed on March 3, 2017.
  12. ↑ a b Allcarindex (English, accessed on February 19, 2017).
  13. ↑ a b c d'Auto (Dutch, accessed February 19, 2017).
  14. ↑ a b c N. N. in: Puch Club Magazine - The new magazine for Puch enthusiasts! (Magazine), issue 7, May – June 2013, p. 44 ff.
  15. ↑ a b Information on the Mopetta laden boy and its further developments on the web portal puchklub.at ( Memento of the original from January 29, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed February 27, 2017. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.puchklub.at
  16. ↑ a b Reproduction of pages 44 f. of the magazine Puch-Club-Magazin , issue 7, May – June 2013 ( Memento of the original from January 29, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed February 27, 2017. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / puch.planetdichtl.com
  17. ↑ Website of the company ( Memento of December 23, 2004 in the Internet Archive )
  18. ↑ Website of the company ( Memento of November 3, 2005 in the Internet Archive )
  19. ↑ teloos.at zur Megu GesmbH (accessed on February 19, 2017).
  20. ↑ teloos.at on Megu Handels- & Werbe GmbH (accessed on February 19, 2017).
  21. ↑ teloos.at to Megu Metall- und Gußwaren HandelsgesmbH (accessed on February 19, 2017).
  22. ↑ a b online shop on the company's website ( memo from December 23, 2004 in the Internet Archive )
  23. ↑ firmenmonitor for Megu Handels- & Werbe GmbH of March 8, 1999 (accessed on February 19, 2017).
  24. ↑ company monitor for Megu Handels- & Werbe GmbH from July 31, 1999 (accessed on February 19, 2017).
  25. ↑ company monitor on Megu Handels- & Werbe GmbH from September 6, 2006 (accessed on February 19, 2017).
  26. ↑ Video of the MEGU Mopetta on the web portal youtube.com , accessed on February 27, 2017.