German Motorrad

Today in Motorcycle History

Alba Motorcycles

A Brief History of the Marque

Alba-Werke GmbH, Stettin-Möhringen 21, Pasewalker Kunstst 1, 1918-1926

The ALBA firm was established on August 3rd 1918 to build aircraft and automotive parts. The brand name is derived from the initials of its founder, Albert Baruch.

From 1919 they built motorcycles using four-stroke 198, 247, and 249cc engines of their own construction. These engines were used by Huy, Mazzucchelli, Teco, Raakete and other manufacturers. They offered a three wheeled van (Lastendreiräder) with a 195cc engine which was licence and tax-free in the years 1925 to 1926.

The firm became bankrupt in 1926, as did so many others at the time, but spare parts were produced by Albert's son Manfred well into the 1930s.

An unverified post suggests the frame manufacturer was Bruno Horn GmbH of München.

Notes
1. Now Poland
2. There was a similarly named Italian marque slightly later in the 1920s, l'Alba, and another, Alba of Suresnes in France built automobiles between 1913 and 1928.

Sources: Tragatsch p72, amicidellemotobicisottocanna.blogspot.com, Axel Oskar Mathieu Archive.