Fafnir was a car manufacturer from Aachen, that manufactured from 1903 to 1926 automobiles

History

From needles to Fahrradspeichen

The establishment of the company took place 1894. One began with the production of needles. After the bicycle had become the mass means of transport, the company transferred to the production of Fahrradspeichen. 1898 became it the corporation and firmierte as "Carl Schwanemeyer, Aachener Stahlwaarenfabrik AG", road.

Motorcycle engines

After the saturation of the bicycle market the company produced from now on above all installation engines for motorcycles and automobiles. The products were regarded as inexpensive and of high quality. Starting from 1902 for the products its own name was introduced: "FAFNIR" - the Drache from the Nibelungensage.

From the autokit to the racing car

Between 1904 and 1925 the enterprise developed to a small, but admitted automobile producers. 1912 took place renaming into "Fafnir works", Aachen, road. There nowadays again in some building parts of the former Fafnir works of the research association FEV engine technology at combustion engines one researches.

1904 began transferred into the automobile production with the production of autokits under the name "Omnimobil". The kit contained a 2-Zylindermotor with 6 HP, 700 cm and later a 4-Zylinder engine with 16 HP. Starting from 1908 finished cars were manufactured. Admits was the type "274" with up to 14 HP and a maximum speed of 60 km/h and the type "284" with 16 HP and 70 km/h. This were all gentleman vehicles in such a way specified, i.e. cars for self drivers, who did not employ Chauffeur.

In the sales catalogs of 1912 already 6 different types were specified at prices between 4100 and 16000 RM. Fafnir cars showed remarkable progressive characteristics for the time at that time like for example that the Gangschaltungshebel took place inward, or the rear feathers/springs under the axle shifted wurden.1919 again a change of name - in "Fafnir of works AG - Aachener Stahlwaarenfabrik".

The 1. World war brought the German automotive manufacture nearly to succumbing. Only 1920 was produced with Fafnir again modern vehicles. The last produced model was the type "471", which was built until 1927.

Fafnir led its own author stable with up to 7 running cars in its boom time also. The probably most well-known running driver with Fafnir was Rudolf Caracciola. The participation to the Eifel running devoured very much money. The cars had not grown the close and steep Eifel roads and required a large staff of mechanics.

The end

Fafnir was a "crafts enterprise", to which a conversion to assembly-line production did not succeed. Fafnir produced 1925 with some 100 mechanics monthly only approx. 120 cars. Contention modes like e.g. the OPEL works manufactured already the 30-fache number.

1925 came from. Outdated production methods, insufficient standardization of the parts and the high taxation of the cars as Luxusartikel obstructed the competitive ability. Additionally on pressure of the USA the high import duties of foreign automobiles were waived. The consequence was that cheap American mass vehicles came to Germany. First one believed to be able to receive the company by substantial price reductions alive. But after the vehicles had to be sold clearly under the manufacturing costs, the creditors could not be satisfied any longer. The commitments amounted to 1.8 million RM. End of 1925 took over the banks the announced the enterprise bankruptcy.

Articles in category "Fafnir (automobile mark)"

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