Industry | Motorcycle manufacturer |
---|---|
Founded | 1935 in Katowice, Poland |
Founder | Gustaw Różycki |
Defunct | September 1939 |
Fate | Commandeered for war production |
Key people | Karol Zuber |
Products | MOJ 130 |
Number of employees | 800 (1939) |
Parent | Fabryka Maszyn Oraz Odlewnia Żelaza i Metali MOJ |
MOJ [a] is a defunct brand of motorcycles that were manufactured in Katowice, Poland from 1937 to 1939. The name derives from the nickname of the founder, Gustaw Różycki, whilst he was a student [1] at the University of Leoben. [2]
In 1933, mining engineer Gustaw Różycki bought a small mining machinery factory in Załęże, Katowice from Alfred Wagner and renamed it Fabryka Maszyn Oraz Odlewnia Żelaza i Metali MOJ. [3] He set about expanding the company and by the time WWII broke out the number of employees had risen from 15 to 800. [4] The company produced mining equipment, boat engines, chain saws and other machinery. [3]
Różycki was a motorcycle enthusiast and wanted to produce his own machines. In 1935 he employed engineer Karol Zuber to head a new motorcycle division. [3] [5] The first motorcycle, the MOJ 130, was produced later that year. It had a 128 cc two-stroke engine. A 250 cc machine was in development, [3] and there were plans to produce cars. Land had been brought in Sandomierz to build a second factory for car production. Car production was due to start in 1940/1 but the war brought an end to this plan. [5] A rotary engine was in development and Różycki was granted a patent for the design. [5] [2]
Following the German invasion of Poland, the factory was commandeered by the Germans to produce mining equipment and ammunition, although a small number of motorcycles were manufactured for military use. [3] Różycki joined the resistance and as a result spent the rest of the war in concentration camps in Dachau and Gusen. [3]
After the end of WWII, the factory was nationalised [5] and it was decided not to re-establish motorcycle production. [3]
The motorcycle was modelled on German motorcycles of the time, with an emphasis on quality. [3] Prototype models were fitted with a Villiers engine, but production models used their own 128 cc single cylinder two-stroke engine. A rigid duplex frame was used with pressed steel girder forks. Most components were made by the factory or were from Polish manufacturers. [6] The motorcycle was presented to the press in February [5] 1937 [4] and production machines were available in August of that year. [1]
In 1938 the engine was improved with dual exhausts exiting the cylinder at the rear and the carburettor moved to the side of the engine. [1] The gearchange was changed from hand to foot operated. [7] Some machines were purchased by the military, including the 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade. There was also a state-funded purchase scheme for officers to buy the motorcycle. [6]
A few competition versions of the model were made and on which Różycki entered various events, including the 1939 Tatra Rally, which he won. [4]
Around 600 units of the MOJ 130 were produced pre-war. [1] [4]
Industry | Motorcycle manufacturer |
---|---|
Founded | 1935 in Katowice, Poland |
Founder | Gustaw Różycki |
Defunct | September 1939 |
Fate | Commandeered for war production |
Key people | Karol Zuber |
Products | MOJ 130 |
Number of employees | 800 (1939) |
Parent | Fabryka Maszyn Oraz Odlewnia Żelaza i Metali MOJ |
MOJ [a] is a defunct brand of motorcycles that were manufactured in Katowice, Poland from 1937 to 1939. The name derives from the nickname of the founder, Gustaw Różycki, whilst he was a student [1] at the University of Leoben. [2]
In 1933, mining engineer Gustaw Różycki bought a small mining machinery factory in Załęże, Katowice from Alfred Wagner and renamed it Fabryka Maszyn Oraz Odlewnia Żelaza i Metali MOJ. [3] He set about expanding the company and by the time WWII broke out the number of employees had risen from 15 to 800. [4] The company produced mining equipment, boat engines, chain saws and other machinery. [3]
Różycki was a motorcycle enthusiast and wanted to produce his own machines. In 1935 he employed engineer Karol Zuber to head a new motorcycle division. [3] [5] The first motorcycle, the MOJ 130, was produced later that year. It had a 128 cc two-stroke engine. A 250 cc machine was in development, [3] and there were plans to produce cars. Land had been brought in Sandomierz to build a second factory for car production. Car production was due to start in 1940/1 but the war brought an end to this plan. [5] A rotary engine was in development and Różycki was granted a patent for the design. [5] [2]
Following the German invasion of Poland, the factory was commandeered by the Germans to produce mining equipment and ammunition, although a small number of motorcycles were manufactured for military use. [3] Różycki joined the resistance and as a result spent the rest of the war in concentration camps in Dachau and Gusen. [3]
After the end of WWII, the factory was nationalised [5] and it was decided not to re-establish motorcycle production. [3]
The motorcycle was modelled on German motorcycles of the time, with an emphasis on quality. [3] Prototype models were fitted with a Villiers engine, but production models used their own 128 cc single cylinder two-stroke engine. A rigid duplex frame was used with pressed steel girder forks. Most components were made by the factory or were from Polish manufacturers. [6] The motorcycle was presented to the press in February [5] 1937 [4] and production machines were available in August of that year. [1]
In 1938 the engine was improved with dual exhausts exiting the cylinder at the rear and the carburettor moved to the side of the engine. [1] The gearchange was changed from hand to foot operated. [7] Some machines were purchased by the military, including the 10th Motorized Cavalry Brigade. There was also a state-funded purchase scheme for officers to buy the motorcycle. [6]
A few competition versions of the model were made and on which Różycki entered various events, including the 1939 Tatra Rally, which he won. [4]
Around 600 units of the MOJ 130 were produced pre-war. [1] [4]