1900-1910 Es-Ka Gents Bicycle
(Now sold)
This is a very rare early Czechoslovakian bicycle. It was restored by my good friend Pat in France a few years ago, and is ready to jump on and use. Though restored mechanically, the paintwork has not been touched: this beautiful 100-year-old classic retains its original paintwork and ornate ES-KA emblems.
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ES-KA History
Es-Ka Werke Svetlik & Kastrup Fahrradfabrik, Bohemia, Czechoslovakia
Probably the most famous manufacturer of bicycles in the Czech Republic, mainly because the company was in existence for a long time. Its founders, Opava Slezan Ambros Swetlik and German Heinrich Kastrup, were originally employed by Cheb Premier, a well-known manufacturer of bicycles, prams and (mainly) motorcycles.
But, in 1911, they decided to set up on their own. Their new factory – which was at first called ‘Elite’ – took several employees from Premier and started with the production of bicycles. By 1914 they produced 21,000 and also introduced a model with an auxiliary motor. Around that time, the company renamed themselves Es-Ka, from the phonetic sounds of the founders’ names: Es – Swetlik, KA – Kastrup.
When Fichtel & Sachs introduced their 74cc auxiliary engine, Es-Ka brought out lightweight motorcycles using this powerplant. In 1935 they began to produce small motorcycles called ‘Eska Mofa’ (Motorfahrrad) with the uprated 98cc Fichtel & Sachs engine Sachs. The bike weighed 50 kg and drove 60 km / h. The body was designed separately, ie it was a strengthened bicycle frame with girder forks, as you can see in the illustration below, in a Cambodian postage stamp featuring an 1939 model.
As in other European countries, such vehicles were exempt from tax and driving license, so they became very popular.
Swetlik and Kastrup also set up a cycle factory in 1922 in Rokycany called ‘Tripol.’ František Hering joined them as a partner. Eska components were used, and motorcycles were also manufactured. Around 1925 a 250cc Villiers-powered motorcycle was planned but did not go into production. In 1935, there was a tie-up with Achilles; I think they bought out Achilles but I’m not certain.
The two inseparable friends Swetlik and Kastrup died in 1932 and 1930 respectively. The Tripol company changed its name to Velo Tudor in 1934.
Most of the original Czech bicycle manufacturers moved into motorcycle production in one way or another, most of them by fitting auxiliary engines. The license and registration exemptions for auxiliary-powered bicycles made them much more popular in Europe than in Great Britain. The excellent set-up provided by Fichtel & Sachs helped motorcycle and bicycle manufacturers throughout Continental Europe build and market lightweight motorcycles powered by their engines but badged by the individual companies.
You can read more about Fichtel & Sachs at
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ES-KA BEFORE RESTORATION
These were the first photos I saw of this delightful obscurity from Czechoslovakia. We’re not sure of the exact age, but judging from the large pedal crank, it’s probably closer to 1900 than 1910.
It certainly looked like there was a lot to do on it. But Pat works fast. Within a week, he’d restored it. We decided to leave it untouched cosmetically. The company emblems feature raised letters, which means that they are actually part of the metal frame.
Quite a few of the bikes on the http://www.OldBike.eu website duly found their way across the Channel to France, as exchanges for the collection of unusual and interesting bikes that Pat had sourced and restored for me.
Neither Pat nor I are sure if our exchanges make much financial sense. But we both agree that what’s only semi-obscure in one country is usually totally obscure in another. And we seem to be stuck in this endless syndrome of finding old bikes and cyclemotors to exchange with each other. Such is the nature of our ‘disease’ – the main symptom of which is a total lack of resistance when we come across an old two-wheeler oozing patina.
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www.Oldbike.eu 
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