Alessandro Anzani, born in 1878 in Milan, demonstrated, throughout his career a talent that was matched only by his eclecticism. After moving to France, he began his motorcycling career with the Hurtu Auto and Cycle Company.
His first competitive appearance took place in December 1903 during the World Championship at the Parc des Princes on a 16 h.p. Hurtu motorcycle. In the final, he found himself up against the experienced Maurice Fournier on a 1500 cc V4 Clément. The young outsider would win with honours, taking second place. Noticed by Edmond Gentil, he joined Alcyon on a factory motorcycle and was seconded to the engine manufacturer Buchet.
Alessandro soon showed that he was an outstanding developer, which earned him the nickname "Démon de la carburation" (Carburetor Demon). His talents allowed him to pilot Alcyon motorcycles with experimental engines - in 1905 he rode that of Ambroise Farcot, administrator of Ets Buchet, powered by his 1200 cm3 fan-shaped three-cylinder engine set at 45°. In 1906 he rode that of Ernest Archdeacon, who built for his work on mechanical flight a propeller-motor which ventilated the kilometer of the Achères horticultural park for 45s 2/5 at 79.295 km/h.
In 1907, Buchet turned definitively towards the automobile industry. The "Carburation Demon" spent a short time with Werner, before setting up his own workshops in Asnières and then in Courbevoie as an engine specialist of all kinds.
It was then that Louis Blériot approached Ets Buchet, like many aircraft manufacturers before him. The latter directed him to Alessandro Anzani, who took the Farcot three-cylinder out of the box and resumed its design and development.
In 1909, the 6.4-liter three-cylinder rotary engine was installed in the nose of a Blériot aircraft for a first tourist flight from Toury to Artenay (October 31). On July 25, 1909, Louis Blériot climbed into his Blériot XI, an improbable assembly of wood and canvas. He put on his leather helmet, adjusted his glasses, stroked his moustache one last time, took the joystick of his machine, pushed the throttle fully forward, and accellerated across the grass. The wheels of the frail bird rolled, rolled... and finally left the ground. After a turn on the wing, head for the cliffs of Calais, the sea and perfide Albion.
Thus, 37 historic minutes pass at an average speed of 55 km/h and Louis Blériot, moustache in the wind, finally lands at Dover.
To think that humanity's oldest dream was conquered thanks to a motorcycle!
The prototype of a motorcycle with an aircraft engine certainly gave ideas to motorcyclists, since Anzani subsequently manufactured several V-twins and three-cylinder rotary engines to equip motorcycles that were real monsters. With one of them, Richard Temple reached a speed of 183 km/h in 1923! Anzani also inspired Curtiss Manufacturing Co., which installed a 2-litre 90° V8 with a power of 40 HP in a Marvel motorcycle, with which the unapproved Mile record was set in 26.2/5 seconds, or 220 km/h...
Anzani ceased its engine manufacturing activities in 1939, not without first manufacturing engines of all cylinder capacities, including 125 cm3 for motorcycles.
Source: Adapted from an archive of Histoire de la Moto, 1900-2000
