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1919
Some of the earlier production programmes
were resumed. Small and medium-sized crude
oil engines were built for cars and even
for the bicycle.
1913
Motorenfabrik Oberursel acquired the licence
to build this rotary engine and developed
its own engines using the same principle.
The result was 7-, 9-, 11- and 14-cylinder
engines (the 14-cylinder engine being a
twin-row radial engine). These engines produced
between 70 and 160hp. Only after 1918 were
the rotary engines surpassed in weight-to-power
ratio and consumption by other engine types.
1908
The Seguin brothers developed an aircraft
engine with rotating cylinders to provide
improved cooling, and this was unveiled
at the Paris Air Show. In deference to the
Oberursel licensors, it was named the GNOME-RHONE.
1900
The 2000th GNOM was manufactured. In the
meantime it had undergone a number of improvements
and was installed in field railways, mine
locomotives and locomobiles that were in
service all over the world. Interest in
Oberursel Motorenfabrik reached the highest
circles, and on 22 November 1900 the Emperor
Wilhelm II paid the company a 45 minute
visit. A licence to build GNOM engines was
granted to the French company Seguin in
Lyon.
1898
The engine factory was enlarged once again
and renamed Motorenfabrik Oberursel AG.
The Strauss Bankers of Karlsruhe had a major
financial holding in the factory and retained
management of the company until the merger
with Humboldt-Deutz Motoren AG in 1930.
1897
When the shareholders refused permission
to install the GNOM in a car, Willy Seck
left Oberursel for good. During the next
few decades he was involved in the development
of cars, carburettors and ignition apparatus
with various car manufacturers, until he
disappeared without trace in Silesia during
the Second World War.
1892
Willy Seck & Co. company established.
Engine construction began. Its engine became
very well known and successful, winning
major prizes around the world.
1891
Engineer Willy Seck succeeded in building
a new injection mechanism for conventional
petroleum engine in his father's workshop.
The new engine was a robust one-cylinder
four-stroke 4hp engine without camshaft,
small but powerful. He called it the "GNOM".
Some of the tradesmen in Oberursel thought
the name stood for "Geht Nicht Ohne
Monteur" (Won't Work Without Mechanic)! |
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