View source for Adler (cars and motorcycle)

{{Short description|German 1900–1957 automobile and motorcycle manufacturer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
[[File:ADLER Werke Logo.svg|thumb|220px|The logo of Adler.]]
[[Image:Adler Standard 6 hood ornament.jpg|thumb|Hood ornament Adler Standard 6]]
[[File:Adler 1901 4.5 HP Vis-à-vis on London to Brighton VCR 2010.jpg|thumb|right|Adler 4 1/2HP Vis-à-vis 1901 entrant in the London to Brighton veteran car run 2010.]]
[[File:Adlerwerke Kleyerstr 16082007.JPG|thumb|The former building of Adlerwerke in Frankfurt am Main]]
[[Image:MHV Adler Standard 6S 1928 01.jpg|thumb|Adler Standard 6, the model [[Clärenore Stinnes]] drove on her journey around the world]]
'''Adler''' was a German bicycle, car, and motorcycle manufacturer from 1880 until 1957. The'' 'Adler' '' name is German for '[[eagle]]'. '''Adlerwerke vormals Heinrich Kleyer''' (‘Adler Works formerly [known as] Heinrich Kleyer’) was a German manufacturer established by [[Heinrich Kleyer]] in [[Frankfurt am Main]].
The factory in [[Gallus (Frankfurt am Main)|Frankfurt-Gallus]] still exists and was restored in the late 1990s for use as an office building. It also houses the ''Gallustheater'' and a restaurant.
==History==
The Adler factory produced bicycles (from 1880), [[typewriters]], [[sewing machines]] motorcycles, aircraft and calculators in addition to cars. Before [[World War I]], the company used [[de Dion-Bouton|De Dion]] two- and four-[[cylinder (engine)|cylinder]] engines in cars that ranged from 1032 cc to 9081 cc; beginning in 1902 (the year [[Edmund Rumpler]] became technical director),<ref>Lyons, Pete (January 1988). "10 Best Ahead-of-Their-Time Machines". ''[[Car and Driver]]''. Vol. 49, no. 1. p. 73.</ref> they used their own engines as well. These cars, driven by Erwin Kleyer and Otto Kleyer (sons of the company founder Heinrich Kleyer) and by Alfred Theves won many sporting events. In the 1920s, Karl Irion raced many Adlers; popular models of the period included the 2298 cc, 1550 cc, and 4700 cc four-cylinders and the 2580 cc six-cylinders. A few of the '''Standard''' models, built between 1927 and 1934, featured [[Walter Gropius|Gropius]]-designed coachwork. The [[Adler Standard 6]], which entered volume production in 1927, had a 2540 cc or 2916 cc six-cylinder engine, while the [[Adler Standard 8]] which appeared a year later use a 3887 cc eight-cylinder engine.  The Standard 6, first seen in public at the [[Berlin Motor Show]] in October 1926 was the first Continental European car to use [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]] [[hydraulic brakes]] (the [[Triumph 13/35]] offered them in the UK in 1924 and [[Duesenberg]] offered them in the US in 1920), when it was fitted with an ATE-Lockheed system. 1927 to 1929 [[Clärenore Stinnes]] was the first to circumnavigate the world by car, in an Adler Standard 6.<ref>Winter, Michael. ''PferdeStärken: die Lebensliebe der Clärenore Stinnes''. Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt Taschenbuch, 2001. {{ISBN|3-499-23536-6}}.</ref>
In December 1930, Adler assigned the German engineer [[Josef Ganz]], who was also editor-in-chief of [[Motor-Kritik]] magazine, as a consultant engineer. In the first months of 1931, Ganz constructed a lightweight [[Volkswagen]] prototype at Adler with a tubular chassis, a mid-mounted engine, and [[Independent suspension|independent wheel suspension]] with [[Swing axle|swing-axles]] at the rear. After completion in May 1931, Ganz nicknamed his new prototype [[Maikäfer]] ([[May Beetle]]). After a shift in management at Adler, further development of the Maikäfer was stopped as the company's new technical director Hans Gustav Röhr concentrated on front-wheel driven cars.
In the 1930s, the company introduced [[front-wheel drive]] [[Adler Trumpf|Trumpf]] and [[Adler Trumpf Junior|Trumpf-Junior]] models, ranging from 995 cc to 1645 cc four-cylinder flat-head [[Flathead engine|sv]] engines. These gained many successes in races, including in the [[Le Mans]] race. The 1943 cc '''Favorit''', the 2916 cc six-cylinder '''Diplomat''' (featuring 65 [[horsepower|hp]] (48&nbsp;kW) at 3800 [[Revolutions per minute|rpm]], and the 1910 cc four-cylinder and 2494 cc six-cylinder models (with [[Ambi-Budd]] and [[Karmann]] [[Coachwork|bodywork]]) were all [[rear-wheel drive|rear-driven]]; these were built until [[World War II]]. The last new car introduced by Adler was the [[Adler 2.5-litre|2.5 Liter]] of 1937; it had a six-cylinder engine producing 58&nbsp;hp (43&nbsp;kW). Thanks to a streamlined body designed by [[Paul Jaray]], this car could run at 125&nbsp;km/h (78&nbsp;mph).<ref>Odin, L. C. [https://amazon.com/dp/B00ZLN91ZG#reader_B00ZLN91ZG ''World in Motion 1939: The Whole of the Year's Automobile Production'']. Manila: Belvedere Publishing, 2015. ASIN: B00ZLN91ZG. (E-book.)</ref>
After [[World War II]], a decision was made to not resume automobile construction. Motorcycle production resumed in 1949 and continued for eight years, leading to the production of the MB 250S. As part of [[war reparations]] to the Allies, Adler motorcycle designs were ceded to  Britain; however it is an [[urban myth]] that the Adler designs formed the basis of [[Ariel (vehicle)|Ariel]]'s<ref>Ariel was owned by [[Birmingham Small Arms Company|BSA]]</ref> '''Arrow''' and '''Leader''' models. Increasingly, Adler focused on the manufacture of office equipment. The company associated with [[Triumph (TWN)|Triumph]] to form '''[[Triumph-Adler]]''', and was taken over by [[Grundig]] in 1957, then later by [[Olivetti]].<ref>[http://cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/adler.htm History web-page]</ref> In 1969 Adler was acquired by [[Litton Industries]].
In 1993, Olivetti sold Adlerwerke AG, which is still listed on the stock exchange, with the entire historical factory premises in Frankfurt to real estate investor Roland Ernst and construction company Philipp Holzmann. The existing typewriter production was initially relocated and finally discontinued in 1998; the site with the listed buildings was sold separately to subsidiaries of the investors. In 1999 HBAG Real Estate (formerly Kühltransit AG) took over 98.3 percent of the shares of Adlerwerke AG from the financially troubled Philipp Holzmann AG.
Adlerwerke AG changed its name to [[Adler Real Estate]] in 2002 and have been active in real estate project development since then.
===Car models===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Typ                                         !! Construction Time !! Cylinders !! Capacity   !! Power           !! Top speed
|-
| Vis-à-Vis                                   || 1900–1903   || 1        || 400 cc   || 2,6&nbsp;kW (3,5 PS)         || {{convert|30|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| {{convert|45|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}}                                      || 1900–1903   || 1        || 510 cc   || 3,3&nbsp;kW (4,5 PS)         || {{convert|35|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| {{convert|8|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}}                                        || 1901–1903   || 1        || 865 cc   || 5,9&nbsp;kW (8 PS)           || {{convert|40|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 24/28 PS                                    || 1904–1905   || 4 inline  || 4,016 cc || 20,6&nbsp;kW (28 PS)         || {{convert|65|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 8/12 (8/14) PS                              || 1904–1906   || 2 inline  || 2,008 cc || 8,8–10,3&nbsp;kW (12–14 PS)  || {{convert|50|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 4/8 PS                                      || 1906–1907   || 2 V      || 1,032 cc || 5,9&nbsp;kW (8 PS)           || {{convert|55|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 5/9 PS                                      || 1907–1909   || 2 inline  || 1,134 cc || 6,6&nbsp;kW (9 PS)           || {{convert|60|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 8/15 PS                                     || 1907–1910   || 4 inline  || 2,011 cc || 11&nbsp;kW (15 PS)           || {{convert|55|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 11/18 PS                                    || 1907–1910   || 4 inline  || 2,799 cc || 13,2&nbsp;kW (18 PS)         || {{convert|55|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 23/50 PS                                    || 1909–1912   || 4 inline  || 5,800 cc || 42,6&nbsp;kW (58 PS)         ||
|-
| 19/45 PS                                    || 1909–1912   || 4 inline  || 4,840 cc || 35&nbsp;kW (48 PS)           ||
|-
| 13/30 PS                                    || 1909–1912   || 4 inline  || 3,180 cc || 25,7&nbsp;kW (35 PS)         ||
|-
| 10/28 PS                                    || 1909–1912   || 4 inline  || 2,612 cc || 22&nbsp;kW (30 PS)           ||
|-
| K 7/15 PS                                   || 1910–1913   || 4 inline  || 1,768 cc || 11&nbsp;kW (15 PS)           || {{convert|60|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 30/70 PS                                    || 1911–1914   || 4 inline  || 7,853 cc || 51&nbsp;kW (70 PS)           || {{convert|115|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 35/80 PS                                    || 1911–1914   || 4 inline  || 9,081 cc || 62,5&nbsp;kW (85 PS)         ||
|-
| K 5/13 PS                                   || 1911–1920   || 4 inline  || 1,292 cc || 9,6–10,3&nbsp;kW (13–14 PS)  || {{convert|55|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 20/50 PS                                    || 1912–1914   || 4 inline  || 5,229 cc || 40&nbsp;kW (55 PS)           || {{convert|105|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 15/40 PS                                    || 1913–1914   || 4 inline  || 3,866 cc || 33&nbsp;kW (45 PS)           || {{convert|90|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 9/24 PS                                     || 1913–1914   || 4 inline  || 2,313 cc || 17,6&nbsp;kW (24 PS)         || {{convert|70|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 25/55 PS                                    || 1913–1914   || 4 inline  || 6,457 cc || 44&nbsp;kW (60 PS)           ||
|-
| KL 6/16 PS                                  || 1913–1920   || 4 inline  || 1,551 cc || 11,8&nbsp;kW (16 PS)         || {{convert|60|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 12/30 PS                                    || 1914        || 4 inline  || 3,115 cc || 25,7&nbsp;kW (35 PS)         ||
|-
| 9/24 (9/30) PS                              || 1921–1924   || 4 inline  || 2,298 cc || 17,6–22&nbsp;kW (24–30 PS)   || {{convert|65|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}–{{convert|75|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 12/34 (12/40) PS                            || 1921–1924   || 4 inline  || 3,115 cc || 25–29&nbsp;kW (34–40 PS)     || {{convert|85|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 18/60 PS                                    || 1921–1924   || 4 inline  || 4,712 cc || 44&nbsp;kW (60 PS)           || {{convert|100|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 6/22 PS                                     || 1922–1923   || 4 inline  || 1,550 cc || 16&nbsp;kW (22 PS)           || {{convert|75|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 10/50 PS                                    || 1925–1927   || 6 inline  || 2,580 cc || 37&nbsp;kW (50 PS)           || {{convert|90|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 18/80 PS                                    || 1925–1927   || 6 inline  || 4,704 cc || 59&nbsp;kW (80 PS)           || {{convert|100|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| 6/25 PS                                     || 1925–1928   || 4 inline  || 1,550 cc || 18&nbsp;kW (25 PS)           || {{convert|80|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Standard 6|Standard 6]]             || 1927–1928   || 6 inline  || 2,540 cc || 33&nbsp;kW (45 PS)           || {{convert|85|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}–{{convert|90|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Standard 8|Standard 8]]             || 1928–1933   || 8 inline  || 3,887 cc || 51–59&nbsp;kW (70–80 PS)     || {{convert|100|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}–{{convert|105|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Standard 6|Standard 6 A/S]]         || 1928–1934   || 6 inline  || 2,916 cc || 37&nbsp;kW (50 PS)           || {{convert|85|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}–{{convert|90|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Favorit|Favorit]]                   || 1929–1933   || 4 inline  || 1,943 cc || 25,7&nbsp;kW (35 PS)         || {{convert|80|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Primus|Primus 1,5 A]]               || 1932–1934   || 4 inline  || 1,504 cc || 23,5–24,2&nbsp;kW (32–33 PS) || {{convert|90|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Trumpf|Trumpf 1,5 AV]]              || 1932–1934   || 4 inline  || 1,504 cc || 23,5–24,2&nbsp;kW (32–33 PS) || {{convert|95|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Favorit|Favorit 2U]]                || 1933–1934   || 4 inline  || 1,943 cc || 29&nbsp;kW (40 PS)           || {{convert|90|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Standard 6|Standard 6 3U]]          || 1933–1934   || 6 inline  || 2,916 cc || 44&nbsp;kW (60 PS)           || {{convert|100|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Standard 8|Achtzylinder]]           || 1933–1934   || 8 inline  || 3,887 cc || 59&nbsp;kW (80 PS)           || {{convert|105|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Trumpf|Trumpf Sport]]               || 1933–1935   || 4 inline  || 1,645 cc || 34,5&nbsp;kW (47 PS)         || {{convert|115|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Primus|Primus 1,7 A]]               || 1933–1936   || 4 inline  || 1,645 cc || 28&nbsp;kW (38 PS)           || {{convert|95|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Trumpf|Trumpf 1,7 AV]]              || 1933–1936   || 4 inline  || 1,645 cc || 28&nbsp;kW (38 PS)           || {{convert|100|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Diplomat|Diplomat]]                 || 1934–1938   || 6 inline  || 2,916 cc || 44–48&nbsp;kW (60–65 PS)     || {{convert|100|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}–{{convert|105|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Trumpf Junior|Trumpf Junior 1G/E]]  || 1934–1941   || 4 inline  || 995 cc   || 18,4&nbsp;kW (25 PS)         || {{convert|90|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Trumpf Junior|Trumpf Junior Sport]] || 1935–1937   || 4 inline  || 995 cc   || 20,6&nbsp;kW (28 PS)         || {{convert|110|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Trumpf|Trumpf 1,7 EV]]              || 1936–1938   || 4 inline  || 1,645 cc || 28&nbsp;kW (38 PS)           || {{convert|102|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler Primus|Primus 1,7 E]]               || 1937–1938   || 4 inline  || 1,645 cc || 28&nbsp;kW (38 PS)           || {{convert|100|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler 2.5-litre]]               || 1937–1940   || 6 inline  || 2,494 cc || 42,6&nbsp;kW (58 PS)         || {{convert|125|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler 2.5-litre|Adler 2.5-litre Sport]]         || 1938–1939   || 6 inline  || 2,494 cc || 59&nbsp;kW (80 PS)           || {{convert|150|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|-
| [[Adler 2 Liter|2 Liter]]                   || 1938–1940   || 4 inline  || 1,910 cc || 33&nbsp;kW (45 PS)           || {{convert|110|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}
|}
==Galleries==
===Adler automobiles===
<gallery>
File:Adler 1901 4.5 HP Vis-à-vis on London to Brighton VCR 2010.jpg|Adler 4 1/2HP Vis-à-vis 1901
Image:Adlersinglelandaulete1909.jpg|1909 Adler
Image:Adler Junior Type 1E.jpg|Adler Trumpf Junior
Image:Adler Trumpf 1.7 Liter Karman 1934.jpg|1934 Adler Trumpf 1.7 Liter Karman from Barcelona
Image:Adlerjunior.jpg|1939 Adler Trumpf Junior
Image:Adler 2 Liter Cabriolet 1939.jpg|1939 Adler 2 Liter
Image:Adler-2-5-liter-cabriolet-1.jpg|Adler 2.5 Liter Cabrio
Image:Adler 2,5 Liter Limousine.jpg|Adler 2.5 Liter
Image:Adler Diplomat 3 GS mit Holzgasgenerator-hinten rechts.JPG|Adler Diplomat 3 with gas generator
</gallery>
===Adler motorcycles===
<gallery>
Image:Adler MB 250 1953.jpg|1953 Adler MB 250
Image:Adler Motorrad.JPG|Adler motorcycle
Image:Adler RS 250ccm 1953.JPG|1953 Adler RS 250
</gallery>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.adler-veteranen.de/ Adler-Motor-Veteranen-Club (club for owners of Adler cars & motorcycles, website in German)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080611203853/http://www.adlermotorcycles.com/Index.asp Website for Adler motorcycle enthusiasts in Australia]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20181127052135/http://www.adlermotorcycles.co.uk/ Website for Adler motorcycle enthusiasts in the UK]
* [http://www.trucksplanet.com/ru/catalog/index.php?id=24 History of Adler trucks]
* {{PM20|FID=co/000302|TEXT=Documents and clippings about|NAME=}}
{{Major German motorcycle manufacturers}}
{{German bicycle manufacturers}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adler (automobile)}}
[[Category:Adler vehicles| ]]
[[Category:1957 disestablishments in West Germany]]
[[Category:Adler (automobile)]]
[[Category:Cycle manufacturers of Germany]]
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of Germany]]
[[Category:German companies established in 1900]]
[[Category:Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers]]
[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of Germany]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies disestablished in 1957]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1900]]
[[Category:Vintage vehicles]]