Description
Victoria 1903 2 ¼ HP 289 cc Fafnir AIV frame # 85447 engine # DRP 1896
The company started, like most motorcycle manufacturers, with bicycles.
Founders Max Frankenburger and Max Ottenstein formed their company ‘Frankenburger und Ottenstein Nürnberg ’ in 1886 in Nuremberg.
By 1888 they had manufactured 1000 Victoria bicycles and in 1895 the name became ‘Victoria Fahrradwerke AG,’ abbreviated to ‘Victoria Werke AG’ in 1899.
The first motorcycles were produced in 1901.
The ancient town of Nuremberg was a centre of technology comparable with Coventry.
Once famous German motorcycle manufacturers like Ardie, Triumph, Hecker, Hercules and Mars hailed from that city.
The machine we present here is thought to be the oldest known surviving Victoria motorcycle.
It is equipped with a 289 cc Fafnir engine type 6g with bore x stroke of 75 x 80 mm.
This engine turns 1800-2000 rpm and weighs about 20 kg.
This interesting piece of motorcycle history is a family heirloom and is offered by the grandson of a Belgian gentleman who still used the machine as daily transport in the nineteen twenties, as proved by official documents that come with the machine.
At the end of its working life the Victoria was put to rest in a chicken shed.
Unfortunately it was placed under a leaking gutter where it stood for 60 odd years.
The machine is offered for display purposes only of course but still presents the Victoria workmanship of the early days.
Birdie and its nest are included in the price!