Anzani was an engine manufacturer founded by the Italians Alessandro Anzani (1877–1956), which produced engines for aircraft, Automobile, boats, and motorcycles in factories in United Kingdom, France and Italy.
Overview
From his native Italy, Anzani moved to France where he became involved in cycle racing. He moved on to motorcycles and designed and built a record-breaking lightweight engine. In 1907, he set up a small workshop in Paris with three staff and while they were building his engines, he designed a
hydrofoil powered by one of his engines and propellers.
Aircraft engines
He supplied one of his engines to
Enrico Forlanini and developed it further into a three-cylinder,
Air cooling radial engine ideal for
. One of the early engines, the 25 hp Anzani W-3 or Fan type, was supplied to Louis Blériot who used it on his successful first aeroplane crossing of the
English Channel in 1909.
Types
-
Anzani 3-cyl. Fan 10-12 hp 3.35" × 3.35"
-
Anzani 3-cyl. Fan 12-15 hp 3.35" × 3.94"
-
Anzani 3-cyl. Fan 25-30 hp 4.13" × 5.12"
-
Anzani 3-cyl. Fan 30-35 hp 4.73" × 5.12"
-
Anzani 3-cyl. Fan 40-45 hp 5.32" × 5.92"
-
Anzani 3-cyl. Fan 45-50 hp
-
Anzani 3-cyl. Y (Radial) 30hp
-
Anzani 4-cyl. V 30-35 hp (water-cooled) 35 hp at 1,600 rpm
-
Anzani 4-cyl. V 60-70 hp (water-cooled)
-
Anzani 5-cyl. Radial 45hp
-
Anzani 5-cyl. Radial 60hp
-
Anzani 6-cyl. Radial 45hp at 1,300 rpm
-
Anzani 6-cyl. Radial 70hp
-
Anzani 7-cyl. Radial 95hp
-
Anzani 10-cyl. Radial 100hp
-
Anzani 14-cyl. Radial 160hp
-
Anzani 20-cyl. Radial 200hp
New factories
Demand for the engines continued to grow and the original Paris workshop was replaced by a new factory at
Courbevoie, Paris, and one in
London was also added as well as licensed production by other makers. Another factory at
Monza, Italy was added in 1914.
Motor racing
In 1920, Anzani turned to
motor racing and built a small car with one of his 750 cc two-cylinder engines, air-cooled of course, which won several competitions. They also made a 1098 cc
cyclecar between 1923 and 1924, as used in the T.B. Sports cyclecar.
Sale of factories
On his 50th birthday in 1927, Anzani decided to sell his factories in Paris and London, keeping only the Monza works for sentimental reasons, and managed by Natale Baccanti.
British Anzani
In the UK, British Anzani outsourced the manufacture of their engines to Coventry Ordnance Works Ltd. In the 1920s, it was refinanced as
British Vulpine Engine Company, and then again as
British Anzani Engineering Company, concentrating on small engines and car and motorcycle powerplants. They supplied
AC Cars with the 1496cc
side-valve four-cylinder (that would become AC's famous 2-litre motor),
Frazer-Nash with a 1496cc side valve engine, (latterly supercharged) Morgan Motor Company with a
V-twin, and Squire with the R1
twin cam engine.
Berkeley Cars used small Anzani motorcycle engines in some models. British Anzani's best known products were motorcycle,
lawnmower and
. Cotton, Tandon and Greeves motorcycles used Anzani motors.
In later years, the company diversified. In the years after World War II, the company's main product was the 'Iron Horse' - a two-wheeled pedestrian-controlled ploughing engine and light tractor. In time, four-wheeled versions with the driver sitting on the front of the vehicle were produced. The company became the British Anzani Group, and was trading under that name when it went into liquidation in 1980.
The trademark 'British Anzani' was re-registered in 2003 and the company, Anzani Ltd, in 2006. The company is supplying classic spares through Dolphin Engines of Launceston (Cornwall, UK) and is planning a return to the automotive, marine and transport industries, with products designed by Bo Zolland.
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