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1907 Motosacoche light motorcycle. Motosacoche was founded in 1899, by Henri and Armand Dufaux, in Geneva, Switzerland. From 1900 Motosacoche produced a bicycle auxiliary engine, in a subframe that could be installed into a conventional bicycle. This looked like an engine in a bag, hence the Motosacoche name, meaning "engine in a bag".

In 1910 Royal Enfield used Motosacoche 344 cc 2.75 hp engines in a successful V-twin model. They are reputed to have supplied Triumph, Ariel, Matchless and Brough-Superior with engines at times too, first through H & A Dufaux England Ltd, and then, by 1912, Motosacoche Ltd (GB), with Osborne Louis De Lissa. Motosacoche had factories in Switzerland, France and Italy, and supplied MAG engines to continental manufacturers including Clement, Condor, Imperia, Neander and Monet Goyon. When the Bol d'Or 24-hour event was first held on the outskirts of Paris in 1922 the winning rider covered more than 750 miles (1206 kilometres) on a 500 cc Motosacoche. In 1928 they made a name in the Grand Prix, with the Motosacoche 350 M 35 ohc racing bike, built by Dougal Marchant, of England, ridden to two European championship titles, 350 and 500, by Wal Handley. Bert le Vack joined Motosacoche in the late 1920s. He had ridden in the 1914 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy and became the works rider, chief designer and tuner. Le Vack was killed in an accident in the Swiss Alps on 17 September 1931, while testing the Motosacoche A50 on public roads close to their factory. During the 1930s Motosacoche were eclipsed by the Norton Motorcycle Company and went into decline. In 1947 an unusual 200 cc sv motorcycle design was shown, but not produced. In 1953 Richard Kuchen designed a motorcycle that was marketed under the Motosacoche name, but this was unsuccessful, and by 1956 motorcycles were no longer produced. MAG (Motosacoche Acacias Genève) stationary and industrial engines were continued.

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Motosacoche motorcycle. Photo around 1905

"In 1899 the brothers Henry and Armand Dufaux from Geneva, Switzerland, designed a little four-stroke engine. This compact unit could be bolted into the frame of any ordinary pushbike (...) In 1905 the firm was given the legal structure of a "Societe Anonyme" based at Rue Acacias, Geneve. The Dufaux brothers soon left the company and concentrated on building airplanes. Gradually the engines became bigger and more powerful, twin cylinders were produced and the initial idea of a motorized pedal-bike was given up. The factory built complete motorbikes under the "Motosacoche" label, but kept on selling M.A.G. (Motosacoche/ Acacias/ Geneve)-engines to many well known manufacturers in France, England, Germany, Austria and Italy. In France and Italy there were even factories producing Motosacoche motorcycles under licence."

(from www.albisteam)

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