1905ca Puch 905 cc IOE V-twin in road racing trim

From 1889 Johann Puch (1862–1914) worked as an agent for Humber and manufacturer of Styria safety bicycles in a small workshop in Graz and in 1890 he founded his first company Johann Puch & Comp., employing 34 workers. By 1895, Puch already employed more than 300 workers producing about 6000 bikes a year. In 1897 Puch left the company after a dispute with his business partners. Two years later he founded the Erste Steiermärkische Fahrradfabrik AG ( “First Styrian Bicycle Factory AG”) in Graz. Puch’s company became successful through innovation and quality handicraft, rapidly expanding over time. Production of engines was started in 1901 and cars followed in 1904.

To understand the context in which our Puch racer was designed it is good to reflect for a moment on the start of road racing in Europe. The Puch make got much favourable publicity in the “International Cup” races in 1905 and 1906. This race was first organised by the Motor Cycle Club of France in Dourdan, south-west of Paris, on September 25, 1904 with participating teams from Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, and Great Britain. The race was won by France, but disputes arose over the racing conditions. Riders found that on various places the route was full of nails, and many riders had to withdraw because of repeated punctures. French rider Demester won, but curiously his and the other French machines were the only ones that had been fitted with nail catchers; metal brackets fitted close to the tyres to sweep off sharp objects before they could perforate the inner tube. In 1905 the race was held on the same circuit and a Puch racer took part, ridden by Austrian rider Nikodem.

On July ,8 1906 the third race was organised on a circuit near Pacov in Bohemia. Four countries took part, France, Germany, Austria and Great Britain. British riders were Harry and Charlie Collier on their Matchless-JAP machines and Charles Franklin, who would later become the Indian Scout and Chief designer, on a Chater Lea-JAP. The Austrian team consisted of three riders on Puch machines, and their riders Nikodem and Obruba took first and second places. Nikodem finished the 250 km long race with an average of more than 70 km/h. As usual, there was much chicanery on the part of the organising host nation. The rules stipulated that only competing machines were allowed on the course, but apparently the Austrian riders were assisted by racing sidecars full of spare parts and tyres…The weight of the purpose-built racing machines, without fuel or oil, was limited to only 50 kg, so they had to be stripped from all expendable parts and were very basic, with unnecessary weight taken away by drilling various parts.

Only one complete and running Puch veteran racer is known to exist; the remains of the machine we offer were found in Slovakia and the former owner spent much time and effort to bring it back to period-correct condition. The frame was incomplete, cut and rusted through in places so a new frame was carefully built up, using an original racer frame as pattern. Some other parts were reproduced too, as was the petrol tank and the belt rim. The mighty V-twin engine wasn’t touched and was fitted in the frame without being reconditioned. On the accompanying photo file are many photos of the ca 1905 Puch racers: the engine identifies as a 1905 model that was originally fitted with automatic inlet valves, at some time changed for mechanically operated ones. The double carburettors were designed by Puch and derived from French Longuemare items, and apparently only fitted to racing engines. Bore x stroke dimensions are 80 x 90 mm. Our machine is fitted with an extra petrol tank that was commonly used for long distance racing. No frame or engine numbers were found, which is not uncommon for special racing machines. As can be seen from the photos, the machine is currently not in running condition, but she certainly is an eyecatcher and a vivid reminder of Puch’s proud racing history.