"MOTOR
IN THE
SADDLEBAG"

1907 from the Danish Technical Museum

The Swiss company "H.A.Dufaux et Compagnie" was based in Acacias, Geneva, just a few kilometres from the border of France, and entered into production of auxilliary engines within the frame of the newly standardised "diamond framed" bicycles.

By 1905 they had sold more that 4000 of these "moto-sa-coche"s. These were very popular with the armies around Europe which were fascinated by these new contraptions, the Motor Cycles. The factory made quite a number of this in advertising too.

My oldest Motosacoche was one of five ordered for the Norwegian army for 1905. Norway was preparing for breaking up the union with Sweden and a possible war. This conflict luckily never came, maybe because of the modern motorised army of Norway :o)

The auxilliary engine is sturdily mounted in a double tube subframe which contain the 240cc four stroke engine, tank, battery and ignition system. The unit is covered by two clip-on tin shields which are removed on the pictures here

The battery would have to be charged at home as there is no means of charging on the run.

Induction is by automatic inlet through an evaporator, not a carburettor. To run this motorcycle today one must buy fuel (cleansing petrol) at the chemist.

The exhaust is guided by a slider which is forced to run in a groove within the crank.

These engines were sold as auxilliary engines to many bicycle producers who wanted to get into Motor Cycles. The company later changed their motorcycle producing name to M. A, G (Motos. Acacias. Geneva)

1907 from the Danish Technical Museum
1912 see-through at London Science Museum This picture is of a cut through Motosacoche unit which used to be on show at the London Science Museum

Since the German factory of Robert Bosch had standardised the spark plug in 1902 they made progress on magneto ignition,

By 1908 Bosch magnetos were reliable and Motosacoche were quick to apply these new gadgets since it meant that the motorcyclist could go for really long tours and make it home again without a spare battery

With the coils gone, there was additional room for a longer tank and more petrol

My 1910 Motosacoche is numbered in the 12000's so the Swiss factory had so far been world leaders with their design

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