1953 Fuchs FM40 Hilfsmotor (“help-motor”) 2-speed on 1949 HMW Gent’s Bicycle (Austrian)
This rare restored Austrian Fuchs cyclemotor is fitted to an Austrian HMW bicycle. Made by the same company, this would have been an original pairing.
Both the bicycle and the engine are in good restored condition.
My friend Patrick restored it for me. And, as I’ve stored it for over a year, I sent it to my mechanic a few weeks ago.
He serviced the engine and the bicycle and I took a short video clip of it running.
Like other German bicycles I’ve ridden from this era, it’s a well-built heavyweight frame that handles well.
This makes it ideal for cyclemotor use.
The handlebars are tarnished with age, but otherwise the bicycle is in fine fettle.
The saddle is in good condition (and comfortable). Tyres are good.
As you might have guessed from the logo, ‘fuchs’ is German for fox.
SUMMARY:
Like all cyclemotors, these engines are not particularly efficient. They were not in production for long enough to be improved sufficiently to be as good as the mopeds that replaced them by the mid-fifties. But this one works well enough for local use, shows, rallies, etc.
I know of only one other in the UK, and that was in rather a poor state when I last saw it (Bonhams auction, summer 2008).
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A BRIEF FUCHS HISTORY
There are two models of Fuchs hilfsmotor. The first was produced between 1949 and 1951 (below).
Here’s a picture of my 1951 Fuchs cycle-attachment. As you can see from the advert above, it’s almost identical to the Victoria FM38.
In fact, Fuchs was one of the original designers of the Victoria cyclemotor. But he then returned to Austria and brought out his own model, the Fuchs FM40S (below) in direct competition with Victoria in Germany.
This second version of the Fuchs FM40 was manufactured from 1952 to 1955. Many were sold in Sweden (the above ad is Swedish).
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Mit 1 PS Durch Nordafrika – ‘With 1 hp around North Africa’
I have a copy of this book, by Richard Waldegg.
It was printed in 1957, and tells the story of buying a a bicycle fitted with a Fuchs cycle-attachment and cyclemotoring on it around North Africa.
I can’t read or speak German. But I have been known to take my copy of this book with me when I venture out on my Cyclemaster. It helps to inspire me whenever I break down to think that if I’m too far away to get home by pedal power only, at least I can get a bus or a taxi back home to get my van to recover it. I don’t suppose that would have been a luxury available in the Sahara!
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Illustrations from FM40S handbook
These pictures illustrate the procedure for mounting your Fuchs FM40 into a bicycle
This information taken from the Cyclemaster Museum
http://Cyclemaster.co.uk – on page 42
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This machine is now for sale on PAGE 130 of the website below
