WABO (Wagenbouw): 1955-57
Holland
WACKER: 1922-23 UK
WACKER MOTOPEDE: 1921 USA
WACKWITZ: 1920-22 Germany
WADDINGTON: 1902-06 UK
WADDON-ERLICH: 1981-82 UK - 250cc Rotax racer
designed by Joe Erlich, see EMC
WAG: 1924-25 UK - 2 stroke V-twin 500cc - Wright and Gasking
WAGENER: 1906 South Australia
WAGNER: 1930-35 Czech
WAGNER: 1901-14 USA
W.A.K.: 1920 Victoria, Australia
WAKARECKY: 1903-04Russia
WAKEFIELD: 1902 UK
WALBA: 1949-52 Germany - Ilo engined 100 to 175cc machines
WALKER BULL-PUP: 1928 ??
WALL (Autowheel): 1909? UK - Manufactured an innovative
rear wheel clip on 120cc engine kit for bicycles, also produced ROC. See also Smith Motor
Wheel
WALL Tri-car: 1911-15 UK
WALLACE: 1921-25 South Australia
WALLIS: 1925-26 UK
WALMET: 1924-26 Germany
WALTER: 1903-42 Germany - Used Fafnir engines at first, then Villiers, Sachs and
Ilo from the 20s
WALTER: 1923-26 Czech
WALTER: 1900-49 Czech
WALWIN: 1960s?? UK
WAM: 1912 Belgium
WANDERER: 1902-29 Germany - models SV
250, 500 SV V-twin, post-war 616cc, and 750cc v-twins. Buyer could order either 2 or 4
valve motors. In 1928 a shaft drive 500cc OHV single was produced. 1929 the firm collapsed
and the 500 was sold to F. Janacek in Prague. The Janacek Wanderer was later abbreviated
to Jawa.
WARATAH: 1913-47 NSW, Australia
WARD: 1912-15 Victoria, Australia
WARD: 1915-16 UK
WARDILL: 1924-26 UK, unusual 2 stroke
WARLAND: 1923 UK
WARREN: 19?? Australia
WARRIOR: 1921-23 UK
WARWICK: 1909-15 UK
WARWICK: 1903 USA - made by PMC
WASP: 1963-? UK - Small British firm located near
Salisbury, specializing in custom sidecar competition mx and grass track bikes as
well as a few enduro machines using Triumph and later Norton engines. Founded in 1963 by
Robin Tutt.
WASSELL: 1970-75 UK - Founded by WW2 pilot Ted Wassell of Birmingham. Made a
125cc Puch engined motocross machin in 1970 and a trials bike with a 175cc BSA Bantam
engine. Made an offroad bike with 125cc Sachs engine in 1972. After making more than 2,000
machines, high manufacturing costs and a falling American dollar made his bikes too
expensive for the US market, so he closed production in 1975.
WASSON: 1903 USA
WATNEY: 1922-23 UK
WATSON: 1906 South Australia
WATSON: 1911 NSW, Australia
WATSONIAN: 1950 England - Sidecar
manufacturer, made their own motorcycle in 1950 using a 996cc sv V-twin JAP engine.
WATT CYCLEMOTOR: 1952 England
WAVERLEY: 1905-12 USA - 500cc OHV single. Also made
Jefferson and PEM machines and sold engines
WAVERLEY: 1921-23 UK
WAVERLEY: 19?? Australia
WD: 1911-13 UK
WEARWELL: 1901-06 UK - the Wearwell Motor Carriage
Company commenced in 1899 and released its first motorcycle in 1901 using engines built by
the Stevens Bros. they were sold as Wearwell - Stevens. It was fitted with a two and a
half hp, air cooled, 4 stroke Stevens engine, with automatic inlet valve, and mechanically
operated side exhaust valve. The engine was mounted above the front down tube, had
accumulator ignition, a surface carburettor, and belt drive to the back wheel. The same year saw the introduction of the 'Motette' powered
tricycle. It was a modified version of the two and a half horse power motorcycle. In 1905
a redesigned and sturdier model was launched using the 'Wolf' name. It was fitted with a
three and a quarter hp Stevens engine. Later they made new models using the name Wulfruna
and Wolf until about 1922. The company was acquired by the Waine brothers in 1928 and they
started producing Wolf badged motorcycles around 1931 until the start of WWII
WEATHERWELL: 1922-23 UK
WEAVER: 1922-25 UK - made by Alfred Wiseman
WEBB: 1906 Victoria, Australia
WEBER-MAG: 1926-27 Germany
WEBER & REICHMANN: 1923-26 Czech
WEBSTER: 1914 NSW, Australia
WEBSTER: 1920 Victoria, Australia
WECOOB: 1925-30 Germany
WEE McGREGOR: 1922_25 England
WEGA: 1923-24 Austria
WEGRO: 1922-23 Germany - unusual long wheelbase machine - 500cc 2 stroke twin built
in Berlin by VIS-Ges
WEISS: 1925-28 Germany
WE-KA-BE: 1922-23 Austria
WEL-BIKE: 1940s UK - collapsible military bike
WELA: 1925-27 Germany
WELLAND B: 1920-22 UK - mase by Spartan
WELLER: 1902-05 UK - made cars and bikes
WELLS: 19?? Tasmania, Australia
WELS: 1925-26 Germany - assembled 350cc and 500cc
machines using Kuhne and JAP motors
WELT-RAD: 1901-07 Germany
WENDAX: 1930s Germany
WERNER: 1897-1908 France - the Russian brothers
Werner,designed, built and patented the cradle frame in 1901. Werner built a front wheel
drive bike in 1898 but determined that it would improve handling to mount the engine
between the wheels.
WERNER-MAG: 1928-1930 Austria
WERNO: 1921-24 Germany - 155cc 4 stroke or 145cc 2 stroke models built in
berlin by Werner Noel
WERTAL: 1953 Austria
WESPE: 1937-38 Austria
WERNO: 1921-24 Germany
WESSON: 1912? Victoria, Australia
WESLAKE:1936-78 England (engine manaufacturers)
- Speedway machines and engines, British designer and engineer Harry Weslake started
making advanced carburetors in the early 1920s under the name Wex (Weslake-Exeter).
He started working on improved Sunbeam engines in the late 1920s. He formed Weslake and
Taylor in 1936 with Geoffrey Taylor. He expanded after WW2 as Weslake and Company to focus
on R&D and consulting and designing and building new engines. The company also
made engine conversions for the Rickmans. The first complete Weslake speedway machines
were produced in 1977. Harry Weslake died in 1978
WEST: 1920s Western Australia
WEST COAST CHOPPERS: USA - Custom V-Twin Choppers by Jessie James
WESTFALIA: 1901-06 Germany
WESTFIELD: 1993 England
WESTFIELD: 1917 USA
WESTOVER: 1913 USA
WESTOVIAN: 1914-16 England
WFM: 1947- Poland - absorbed Sokol in 1951
W&G: 1927-28 England
WHALLEY: 1911-12 Victoria, Australia
WHEATCROFT: 1924 England
WHIPPET: 1903-06 England - small capacity machines with Aster and FM engines
WHIPPET: 1920-59 England - 180cc scooters
WHIPPET: 1957-59 England - small scooter moped machines -46-64cc
WHIPPLE: 1903-07 USA - tricycle with the two wheels in front using an Aurora
Manufacturing engine
WHIRLWIND: 1901-03 England
WHITBOURN: 1910 Victoria, Australia
WHITE: 1903-04 Victoria, Australia
WHITE: 1950s-75 Hungary (re-badged Pannonia)
WHITE ELEPHANT: 1970s England
WHITE&POPPE: 1902-22 England - mainly made engines for other firms,
but also made complete machines
WHITING: 1912-20 Victoria, Australia - Saville
Whiting designed several motorcycle prototypes but could never get them put into mass
production in England or Australia. They used engines made by Douglas, JAP and the last
used a V - Four of Whiting's design
WHITLEY: 1902-06 England - built engines, some
water-cooled, and some complete motorcycles
WHITWOOD: 1934-36 England - produced by
the OEC company, they specialized in two-wheel cars, with two doors, folding hood and
windscreen, in 1934. They had four models with engines from 150 to 1000cc. two small
outrigger stabilizing wheels kept the machine stable at rest. Despite some innovative
designs, they stopped production in 1936.
WHIZZER: 1947-54 USA - popular motorized
bicycles
WIDMAYER: 1907 USA
WIGA: 1928-32 Germany
WIGAN-BARLOW: 1921 Coventry England
WIKRO: 1924-26 Germany
WILBEE: 1902-06 England
WILD BOAR: 1990s-? USA
WILD WEST: 1990s-? USA - Harely custom
clones
WILHELMINA: 1903-15 Netherlands
WILIER: 1962-70 Italy
WILKIN: 1919-23 England
WILKINSON-ANTOINE: 1903-06 England - made in Belgium
WILKINSON-TAC (WILKINSON-TMC):1903-16 UK - Wilkinson
Sword Company made the TAC (Touring Auto Cycle) in 1909 and TMC (Touring Motor Cycle) in
1911, four-cylinder, air- and liquid-cooled, 676cc (later 848 and 996cc). The TAC was
piloted by a steering wheel, like today's cars. Made a shaft-drive in-line four in 1909.
Production was taken over by the Ogston Motor Company from 1914 to 1916.
WILLAM: 1966-1980 France -
Willam was basically a marketing label for a
variety of foreign-made vehicles to be sold in France. As head of Lambretta
S.A.F.D. in Levallois-Peret, M.H. Willam first presented Lambretta-engined
prototypes at the Paris Salon in 1966, which were actually manufactured by
Scattolini in Italy. In 1967, he entered into an alliance with Lawil of Italy,
which produced a range of microcars sold in France under the names Willam City
and Farmer. In 1971, another 125cc prototype was shown but not produced.
Instead, Willam imported from Italy the Baldi, Zagato Zele, and later the B.M.A.,
Decsa and the museum example, the Casalini. Casalini was a maker of mopeds,
scooters and trikes, who built the tiny Sulky in 50 or 60cc versions. Unusually
for the type, it had all-steel bodywork on a tubular steel frame. In 1980 it
gained a fourth wheel (and was then called Bretta or David) as well as a
Break-style body. Another model was called the Kore. With sales of 1000 per
year, Casalini long outlived the other Italian makes.
WILLIAM: 1950 France
WILLIAMS: 1906-10 South Australia
WILLIAMS: 1912-20 USA - J.N. Williams built a 53
cubic inch radial three cylinder engine that was built inside the wheel on several
prototypes - the footboards are also the starting mechanism. This unorthodox machine never
went into production.
WILLIAMSON: 1912-20 England - early
models had air/water cooled 996cc flat twin
WILLIAMSON: 1903 USA
WILLIS: 1903 USA - see Butterfield
WILLOW: 1922 Tasmania, Australia
WILLOW: 1920 England
WILSON: 1910 USA
WIMMER: 1921-39 Germany - OHV machines from
140cc to 500cc built in Bavaria. Some Bark 2 strokes also built
WIMMERA: 19?? Victoria, Australia
WIN: 1908-14 England - used Precision motors
WINCO: 1920-22 England
WINDHOFf: 1924-33 Germany - licence built Bekamo
machines at first. In 1927 an advanced 750cc oil cooled OHC inline 4 cyclinder shaft drive
machine was built. Later replaced by a 1000cc shft drive flat twin. In the 30s production
declined to Villiers engined machines.
WINDLE: 1970s-? Germany
WINDLE ADM: 1996-? Germany
WINDSOR: 1912-13 Victoria, Australia
WINGED WHEEL: England - A bicycle engine kit made by BSA
WINGWHEEL: 1950-52 Netherlands
WINHA: 1970s Finland
WINTON: 1913 Victoria, Australia
WIRKAU: 1908-14 Russia
WIRRALL: 1924-26 UK
WISCONSIN WHEEL: USA - version of Smith Motor Wheel
WITHINGTON: 1916 Tasmania, Australia
WITTALL: 1910-23 England
WITTBER: 1916 South Australia (engines only?)
WITTEKIND: 1952-54 Germany - 40cc mopeds
WITTLER: 1924-53 Germany - 250cc 2 stroke,
after WW2 it made mopeds and lightweights with Zundapp and Sachs motors
WIZARD: 191? South Australia
WIZARD: 1920-22 Wales Later name for Fowler & Bingham machines, also FB Wizard
WIZZARD: 1950s USA
WK: 1920-22 Germany - 250cc motorwheel that attached to a bicycle
WKB: 1923-24 Austria
WMB: 1924-26 Germany
WMR: 1929-31 Germany
WOLF: 1901-39 England - see Wearwell. Produced
on and off until 1931 when the company came back with two models, then made several models
with Villiers engines until 1940, when production ceased.
WOLF SUPERIOR: 1927 Germany - 500 singles built by Hans Wolf in Nuremberg
WOLSIT: 1910-14, 1932 Italy
WOLSELEY: 1896-1914 UK
WOODS: 1914 USA
WOODS-MEAGHER: 1896 USA
WOOLER: 1911-55 England - founded by John Wooler in 1911
(who designed his first bike in 1909, a two-stroke horizontal single with a double-ended
piston). Renowned for unusual designs including several fore-and-aft twins, a vertical
camshaft single, transverse four beam engine and a transverse flat four. First motorcycle
was a 230cc two-stroke with front and rear plunger springs and a patented 'anti-vibratory'
frame. The bike was made by Wilkinson from 1912 and marketed as Wilkinson-Wooler, raised
to 350cc. Production halted during WW1 and resumed in 1919 with a new, advanced bike
nicknamed the 'Flying Banana.' In 1930 the Depression closed the company. Wooler resumed
in 1945 with a prototype 500cc transverse four. It was displayed at the Earls Court show
in 1948 and again in 1951 and 1954. Only half a dozen hand-built machines were ever made
and the machine never made into production.
WOOLSTON: 1906 South Australia
WOOLLEY: 1960s UK
WOTAN: 1923-25 Germany - Leipzig firm - 170cc 2 strokes
WSE: 1924-25 Germany - W. Elsel built 250cc SV
WSK: 1946-1985 Poland - Wytwornia Sprzetu Komunikacyjnego
- "Communications Equipment Factory", closed in 1985 after agitation
against the Communist regime. The strike in the WSK factory was the first in Poland,
before the Gdansk strike. Produced small-displacement bikes, 125 and 175 cc, two-strokes.
WSM: 1919-23 Germany
WUCO: 1925 Germany
WULFRUNA: 1912-28 UK - see Wearwell
WUL_GUM: 1937-39 Poland - Sachs engined machines
WURRING: 1921 Germany - August Wurring of Dusseldorf also sold bikes as AWD
WURTTEMBERGIA: 1925-33 Germany - Berlin concern that used Blackburne 200 to 600cc
engines
WUYANG HONDA: 1990s-? China
W&W: 1925-27 Austria
WYATT-JAP: 1911-19 South Australia
WYNNE: 1919 UK - early scooter
WYSECYCLE: 1946-50 USA
