 Nimbuslitteratur © 2024 Niels Øwre |
With varying degree of success, between 1898 and 1954, some 40 different manufacturens produced motorcycles in Denmark; but the Company of Fisker & Nielsen and their Nimbus motorcycle became synonymous with Danish public service (Army, Police & Post Office). From a small rented workshop of Copenhagen, Peder Fisker began producing electric motors in 1905. Within a few months, H. M. Nielsen, the works foreman, went into partnership with Fisker, and the Fisker & Nielsen firm was founded. During 1910, domestic electrical equipment and electric were developed, and during World War 1, Fisker turned his attention to motorcycle design, and the Nimbus motorcycle was introduced in 1918.
Strongly influenced by FN of Belgium (see Chapter 1), the Nimbus had a vertical in-line 4-cylinder engine with four independent cast-iron cylinders mounted on an alloy crank-case, and an enclosed shaft final drive. The pressed-steel frame had front and rear suspension with leading-link front forks and helical-sprung rear forks attached to the unit construction gearbox. Early production machines (1919-27), known as 'Stovepipe' models, after their unique cylindrical fuel tank (from the headstock to saddle downtube), became very popular after regular road-race success; nearly always used with a sidecar and ridden by P. A. Fisker.
Hand books and sales literature were printed in Danish, English, German, and Czech, and demand quickly exceeded production. In 1924 however, the Danish government announced a new 'Sales Tax' on motorcycles, and Nimbus machines were finally discontinued in 1927, after some 1285 had been built.
P. A. Fisker, however, did not forsake Nimbus, and in partnership with his son, Anders, a new 4-cylinder Nimbus began to take shape in 1932. This machine went into production in 1934 (p 183), and with only minor changes, continued to be manufactured until 1960, by which date a total of 12,715 had been produced. The new machine was quite different, with the cylinders cast as a single block, mounted within a triangulated pressed steel frame with telescopic front forks and rigid rear wheel. With its 4 cylinders and 750cc capacity (with, unusually, exposed valves) the machine was ideal for sidecar work, and from the first months, the Nimbus was available with a lower sidecar gearing.
Between 1934 and 1950, a total of 5 sidecar models was introduced, providing variation for private and public use. During this period, major changes included a new carburettor, larger drum brakes, improved front forks, revised shaft drive, higher compression ratio, and an improved exhaust system.
Military Service
Danish military motorisation did not include a motorcycle programme until after World War 1. The first machines were Ellehams acquired in 1912-14, followed in 1916 by a Harley-Davidson and an Indian (ambulance sidecar outfit). It was not until 1920 that motorcycle trials began to take place, and the following year two Nimbus 'Stovepipe' models were procured for military service. While the Danish produced motorcycle became standard equipment for many years it was thought that the simplicity of imported single and 2-cylinder models would be more suitable for military use, and a number of military officials were pleased when Nimbus production ceased in 1927. BSA, BMW, Douglas, Norton, and others quickly found their way into the Danish Army.
In 1932, however, the Danish Army introduced a programme for full motorisation, and news of a second Nimbus model (1934) was well received within military circles. For the next two years, extensive trials of Harley-Davidson (1200cc) and Nimbus (750cc) sidecar machines were undertaken. The Harley-Davidson could offer some speed on a surfaced road, but the Nimbus was found easier to start and far easier to control. The Harley-Davidson outfit was almost impossible for two men to push out of off-road difficulty, while it was often possible to recover the Nimbus.
A second military trial took place in the Autumn of 1939, when about 150 machines were tested, including AJS, Ariel, BSA, BMW, Harley-Davidson, Matchless, Royal Enfleld, Zündapp, and others, but once again the Danish military decided that the Nimbus provided the most suitable qualities for their requirements.
With a production target of 1000 machines a year, Nimbus motorcycles were prepared in batches of 50 at a time; the Army, Police & Post Office often taking 30 at a time, while the remainder were usually sold off through a network of dealers. The Nimbus remained a limited production model, but Fisker & Nielsen promoted the machine worldwide; from Argentina to China. The Chinese Army took a delivery in 1937 and the Yugoslav Air Force ordered 100 Nimbus machines in 1941, but when the machines arrived in German-occupied Yugoslavia, the Wehrmacht commandeered and took them to Norway.
Used solo or with a sidecar attached (ambulance, personnel carrier, flat-bed with machine-gun or light cannon), the Nimbus remained the major motorcycle in the Danish Army until 1967-68, when eventually replaced by the BSA B40; the ubiquitous NATO model. Military and civilian departments continued to maintain their Nimbus motorcycles until 1980 and Fisker & Nielsen continued to produce most essential parts to keep these machines in operation.
The illustrated history of military motorcycles