The Werner Brothers,

Michel Michel may refer to: * Michel (name), a given name or surname of French origin (and list of people with the name) * Míchel (nickname), a nickname (a list of people with the nickname, mainly Spanish footballers) * Míchel (footballer, born 1963), ...

and Eugene, were of French nationality but were originally from Russia. They started to experiment with

motorized bicycle A motorized bicycle is a bicycle with an attached motor or engine and transmission used either to power the vehicle unassisted, or to assist with pedalling. Since it sometimes retains both pedals and a discrete connected drive for rider-power ...

s (Moto Bicyclette) in 1896 and are credited with the first use of the word "Motocyclette" in 1897.Motos Francaises
Werner Brothers Moto Bicyclettes.

History

The attempt to use a

De Dion-Bouton De Dion-Bouton was a French automobile manufacturer and railcar manufacturer operating from 1883 to 1953. The company was founded by the Marquis Jules-Albert de Dion, Georges Bouton, and Bouton's brother-in-law Charles Trépardoux. Steam cars T ...

engine in a bicycle frame in 1896 resulted in failure. But in 1897 they succeeded in creating a moto bicycle called the ''Motocyclette'' with the engine mounted on the front steering head that achieved some success. The most significant success in moto bicycle design came in 1900 with the

New Werner The New Werner was a motorcycle produced by Werner Motors beginning in 1901. It replaced Werner's 1897 model, whose motor placed above the front wheel caused handling problems. Production ceased in 1908.Kelly, p. 56 Some 50, now known as the "Lei ...

which used a patented frame design in which the engine is mounted at the bottom of the frame. By this time the company was also making their own engines rather than buying them from De Dion-Bouton as had been the case previously. Werner was also the first or one of the first to produce a moto bicycle with a two-cylinder vertical twin engine in 1903 with a capacity of 500 cc. Werner licensed Motor Manufacturing Company in England to sell their line of motorcycles. When both brothers died, Michel in 1905 and Eugene in 1908Death certificate Eugène Werner
Etat civil Monaco the company failed.
/ref> On 13 September 1902, Alfred Nipper of Prospect Place, Weston Super Mare, was riding his 1898 Werner Motorcycle on Bristol Road, Worle, Somerset when he was reported for the following offence as written on the summons. "Then being the driver of a certain carriage (to wit a motorcycle) on a certain highway there situate called Bristol Road unlawfully did ride the same furiously thereon so as then to endanger the lives and limbs of passengers on the said highway" This is believed to be the first summons issued in Somerset for a motoring offence. Mr Nipper was fined seven shillings and Six pence. The summons is now in the possession of Mr Nippers great nephew Laurie Hatchard of Kingsley Cheshire. Alfred Nipper was a photographer, but he also assisted Marconi with his radio transmissions from Weston Super Mare.

History

See also