Donnet
Encyclopedia
Donnet was a French
manufacturing company of the early twentieth century. Founded as Donnet-Denhaut by Jérôme Donnet (formerly of Donnet-Lévêque) and François Denhaut
at Neuilly-sur-Seine
in 1914, the firm manufactured a highly-successful line of patrol flying boats (the Donnet-Denhaut flying boat series) for the French Navy
. The company became known simply as Donnet after designer Denhaut left it in 1919 (replaced by Maurice Percheron), but did not continue to build aircraft for long afterwards.
Jérôme Donnet purchased Automobiles Zedel
of Pontarlier
, Doubs, France and changed the name of the enterprise to Donnet-Zedel. From this factory he made the Donnet-Zedel CI-6 with 2120 cc engine, a design originating from 1912. A new car, the 1098 cc Type G was introduced in 1925 and it sold well, helping Donnet to become France's fourth largest car maker in 1927. The Type G was made in a former Donnet aircraft factory at Gennevillers, Seine. The Pontarlier works was sold in 1928 and the Zedel part of the name was dropped. Donnet also bought another factory at Nanterre
, Seine from Vinot et Déguingand which although small had room for expansion.
An expanded range of cars appeared in the late 1920s and early 1930s including six-cylinder models but the great days were over and production ended in 1934. The factory at Nanterre was sold to SIMCA
in 1935.
Most of the cars produced by Zédel, Donnet-Zédel and Donnet were powered by four-cylinder engines. The Zédel engine had a displacement of 3168 cc, and the Donnet-Zédel 1100 or 2120 cc.
One of the best models was a Donnet with a 2540 cc six-cylinder side-valve engine.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
manufacturing company of the early twentieth century. Founded as Donnet-Denhaut by Jérôme Donnet (formerly of Donnet-Lévêque) and François Denhaut
François Denhaut
François Denhaut was a French aviator notable for designing, constructing and flying the first flying boat, or seaplane with a hull, in 1912.He was born on 4 October 1877 at Champagnat, Creuse and died at Bellegarde-en-Marche in 1952...
at Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine
Neuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
in 1914, the firm manufactured a highly-successful line of patrol flying boats (the Donnet-Denhaut flying boat series) for the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
. The company became known simply as Donnet after designer Denhaut left it in 1919 (replaced by Maurice Percheron), but did not continue to build aircraft for long afterwards.
Jérôme Donnet purchased Automobiles Zedel
Zédel
Zédel was a Swiss automobile manufacturer established in 1901 by Ernest Zürcher and Herman Lüthi. The factory first manufactured motorcycle engines.In 1906, Zedel began producing automobiles . By 1914 about 400 units had been produced....
of Pontarlier
Pontarlier
Pontarlier is a commune and one of the two sub-prefectures of the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France.-History:...
, Doubs, France and changed the name of the enterprise to Donnet-Zedel. From this factory he made the Donnet-Zedel CI-6 with 2120 cc engine, a design originating from 1912. A new car, the 1098 cc Type G was introduced in 1925 and it sold well, helping Donnet to become France's fourth largest car maker in 1927. The Type G was made in a former Donnet aircraft factory at Gennevillers, Seine. The Pontarlier works was sold in 1928 and the Zedel part of the name was dropped. Donnet also bought another factory at Nanterre
Nanterre
Nanterre is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located west of the center of Paris.Nanterre is the capital of the Hauts-de-Seine department as well as the seat of the Arrondissement of Nanterre....
, Seine from Vinot et Déguingand which although small had room for expansion.
An expanded range of cars appeared in the late 1920s and early 1930s including six-cylinder models but the great days were over and production ended in 1934. The factory at Nanterre was sold to SIMCA
Simca
Simca was a French automaker, founded in November 1934 by Fiat. It was directed from July 1935 to May 1963 by the Italian Henri Théodore Pigozzi...
in 1935.
Most of the cars produced by Zédel, Donnet-Zédel and Donnet were powered by four-cylinder engines. The Zédel engine had a displacement of 3168 cc, and the Donnet-Zédel 1100 or 2120 cc.
One of the best models was a Donnet with a 2540 cc six-cylinder side-valve engine.