Orionette is a historic

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

motorcycle brand. The ''Orionette AG für Motorfahrzeuge'' (also: ''Orion AG für Motorfahrzeuge'') was a German motorcycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1921. The company's headquarters was the ''Industriehof Oranienstraße 6'' in

Berlin-Kreuzberg Kreuzberg () is a district of Berlin, Germany. It is part of the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg borough located south of Mitte. During the Cold War era, it was one of the poorest areas of West Berlin, but since German reunification in 1990 it has b ...

. There was also the serial production of the ''Orionette''. It was one of the most important companies in the automotive and motorcycle industry in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

. The company built a range of , , and

two-stroke A two-stroke (or two-stroke cycle) engine is a type of internal combustion engine that completes a power cycle with two strokes (up and down movements) of the piston during one power cycle, this power cycle being completed in one revolution of ...

machines with mainly unitdesign engines and two or three-speed gearboxes. The design department, headed by

Engelbert Zaschka Engelbert Zaschka (September 1, 1895 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany – June 26, 1955 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany) was a German chief engineer, chief designer and inventor. Zaschka is one of the first German helicopter pioneers and he is a ...

, also produced some interesting unorthodox designs. Unfortunately the very desmodromic lay-out of this interesting two-stroke engine still remains secret. It is called system Zaschka. At last later sales declined and in 1925 the company went bankrupt and closed.

References

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External links

Orionette

ORIONETTE, MOTORETTE
- GTÜ - Oldtimerservice (German)
The Long History of Reverse-Cylinder Engine Designs
- motocrossactionmag.com Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1921 Motorcycle manufacturers of Germany 1925 disestablishments in Germany German brands 1921 establishments in Germany Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1925