Martini (automobile company)
Encyclopedia
This is a page about the pioneer auto company. For the racing team, see Martini (cars)
.
Martini was a pioneer Swiss
automobile
manufacturer, in operation 1897 to 1934.
In 1897, Swiss businessman Adolf von Martini, son of Friedrich von Martini, the inventor of the Martini-Henry
rifle, built an experimental rear-engined car. He followed this with vee-four cars of 10hp (7.5kW) and 16hp (2kW) in 1902. Since Swiss cantons
were unusually hostile to cars, the company had to rely more than most on exports, and demand from abroad proved sufficient to justify building a factory in St. Blaise-Neuchatel in 1904; von Martini relied on a licence from Rochet-Schneider
of France, using an armored wood chassis
and mechanically-operated valve
s.
Promptly, his British sales agent, Captain H. H. P. Deasy, set off in a 16hp on a 2000mi (3200 km) trek through the Alps, which followed his earlier stunt of driving a cog-wheeled Martini up a mountain railway; his praise in both cases was effusive. By 1906, Deasy was sole salesman. That summer, with a 20hp and a four-cylinder 40hp available, Deasy made an ill-advised challenge to Rolls-Royce
(which had a six); Deasy, and (more importantly) Martini lost the 4000mi (6400 km) "Battle of the Cylinders".
For 1907, there was also a chain drive
n 28hp, and an entry in the Kaiserpreis rally, where the marque placed thirteenth and fifteenth. In 1908, showing the rapid pace of change, shaft drive was standard, in 12hp, 16hp, and 20hp models (all still fours, however). That year's Coupe de Voiturettes saw 1086cc (66ci) inlet-over-exhaust SOHC-engined Martinis seventh, eighth, and tenth, enough for the team victory.
The racer was marketed as a 1909 road car, the 10/12, and new monobloc
construction was standard across the line. Yet the engineers could not make up their minds; in 1910, they reverted to side valves, and in 1913, switched to sleeve valve
s for the 25/35, while there was a prototype
sixteen-valve four, the marque's last racing attempt.
World War One and the subsequent recession
crippled Swiss, and Martini, exports. In 1924, Martini was taken over by the Steiger
brothers of Burgrieden
, the next year conceding the "Battle of the Cylinders" with a new six, licenced from Wanderer
. Even in Switzerland, this did not sell, and its replacement, the 4.4 liter NF, having four wheel brakes (unusual for the period), was not enough to save the company. The NF soldiered on until 1934 before just fading away, Martini with it.
The Martini company also manufactured bookbinding machinery. They were purchased by Hans Muller & the company was renamed Muller Martini. They are one of the world's largest manufacturers of book manufacturing equipment. The original factory is still in use today, and has a 1917 Martini car (I will get the model) on display in the lobby of their Bookbinding Academy. I believe the car was sent for restoration in late 2007.
Martini (cars)
Martini Cars is a constructor of Formula racing cars from France, founded by Renato "Tico" Martini in 1965, when Martini and partner Bill Knight founded the Winfield Racing School at the Magny-Cours circuit...
.
Martini was a pioneer Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufacturer, in operation 1897 to 1934.
In 1897, Swiss businessman Adolf von Martini, son of Friedrich von Martini, the inventor of the Martini-Henry
Martini-Henry
The Martini-Henry was a breech-loading single-shot lever-actuated rifle adopted by the British, combining an action worked on by Friedrich von Martini , with the rifled barrel designed by Scotsman Alexander Henry...
rifle, built an experimental rear-engined car. He followed this with vee-four cars of 10hp (7.5kW) and 16hp (2kW) in 1902. Since Swiss cantons
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
were unusually hostile to cars, the company had to rely more than most on exports, and demand from abroad proved sufficient to justify building a factory in St. Blaise-Neuchatel in 1904; von Martini relied on a licence from Rochet-Schneider
Rochet-Schneider
Rochet-Schneider was a French company that produced automobiles during the early 20th century. The Rochet-Schneider sales slogan was "strength, simplicity and silence"....
of France, using an armored wood chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
and mechanically-operated valve
Valve
A valve is a device that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category...
s.
Promptly, his British sales agent, Captain H. H. P. Deasy, set off in a 16hp on a 2000mi (3200 km) trek through the Alps, which followed his earlier stunt of driving a cog-wheeled Martini up a mountain railway; his praise in both cases was effusive. By 1906, Deasy was sole salesman. That summer, with a 20hp and a four-cylinder 40hp available, Deasy made an ill-advised challenge to Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Limited
Rolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
(which had a six); Deasy, and (more importantly) Martini lost the 4000mi (6400 km) "Battle of the Cylinders".
For 1907, there was also a chain drive
Chain drive
Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles...
n 28hp, and an entry in the Kaiserpreis rally, where the marque placed thirteenth and fifteenth. In 1908, showing the rapid pace of change, shaft drive was standard, in 12hp, 16hp, and 20hp models (all still fours, however). That year's Coupe de Voiturettes saw 1086cc (66ci) inlet-over-exhaust SOHC-engined Martinis seventh, eighth, and tenth, enough for the team victory.
The racer was marketed as a 1909 road car, the 10/12, and new monobloc
Monobloc
Monobloc may refer to:*Monobloc engine: an internal combustion engine with the cylinder head and block formed as one unit.*Monobloc : a type of light-weight chair made of one-piece plastic.*Monobloc *Monobloc LNB...
construction was standard across the line. Yet the engineers could not make up their minds; in 1910, they reverted to side valves, and in 1913, switched to sleeve valve
Sleeve valve
The sleeve valve is a type of valve mechanism for piston engines, distinct from the usual poppet valve. Sleeve-valve engines saw use in a number of pre-World War II luxury cars and in USA in the Willys-Knight car and light truck...
s for the 25/35, while there was a prototype
Prototype
A prototype is an early sample or model built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.The word prototype derives from the Greek πρωτότυπον , "primitive form", neutral of πρωτότυπος , "original, primitive", from πρῶτος , "first" and τύπος ,...
sixteen-valve four, the marque's last racing attempt.
World War One and the subsequent recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
crippled Swiss, and Martini, exports. In 1924, Martini was taken over by the Steiger
Steiger (automobile company)
The Steiger company was founded in 1914 as Maschinenfabrik Walther Steiger & Co. by the Swiss engineer Walther Steiger in Burgrieden near Ulm, Germany. In 1921 it became a limited company...
brothers of Burgrieden
Burgrieden
Burgrieden is a municipality in the district of Biberach in Baden-Württemberg in Germany....
, the next year conceding the "Battle of the Cylinders" with a new six, licenced from Wanderer
Wanderer (car)
Wanderer was a German manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, vans and other machinery. Established as Winklhofer & Jaenicke in 1896, the company used the Wanderer brand name from 1911, making civilian automobiles until 1941 and military vehicles until 1945.-History:Winklhofer &...
. Even in Switzerland, this did not sell, and its replacement, the 4.4 liter NF, having four wheel brakes (unusual for the period), was not enough to save the company. The NF soldiered on until 1934 before just fading away, Martini with it.
The Martini company also manufactured bookbinding machinery. They were purchased by Hans Muller & the company was renamed Muller Martini. They are one of the world's largest manufacturers of book manufacturing equipment. The original factory is still in use today, and has a 1917 Martini car (I will get the model) on display in the lobby of their Bookbinding Academy. I believe the car was sent for restoration in late 2007.
Sources
- Georgano, G. N. Cars: Early and Vintage, 1886-1930. London: Grange-Universal, 1985.
- Wise, David Burgess. "Martini: A New Star", in Northey, Tom, ed. The World of Automobiles. London: Orbis Publishing, 1974. Volume 11, pp.1259–60.
German Wikipedia
- http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martini_%28Automobilfabrik%29
- http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steiger_%28Auto%29