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Simson/AWO
The Simson works of Suhl had been producing weapons including rifles and bayonets since they were originally founded by Löb and Moses Simson in 1854. These two Jewish brothers had originally invested a 30% share in a steam hammer company, enabling them to produce carbon steel and subsequently gun barrels and armaments, before eventually being dispossessed of their factory in 1936 by the National Socialists.
From 1936 to 1941, the “Berlin Suhler Waffen und Fahrzeugwerke” (or the Berlin Suhler Weapons and Vehicle Works, to you and me), produced the BSW98 cc lightweight motorcycle. Thus began the long association that the name of Suhl still retains in the east; with two wheeled transport. They already had an established reputation for four wheeled machinery with their twin cam, four valve Supra S sports cars, which the factory had been forced to cease production of in 1934 due to lack of profitability.
In 1945, the occupying Soviet forces dismantled all the manufacturing equipment in the Suhl factory and shipped it as part of war reparations to the USSR. Then for good measure, they set about blowing up the remaining factory buildings where the Panzerbüchse 38 & 39 anti tank rifles had been built throughout hostilities. Despite this obvious setback, the plant once more resumed production with bicycles, prams and even hunting rifles later that very same year.
Soon afterwards, the tooling was returned from the USSR and the Suhler Bicycle Factory as it was then designated was incorporated into the Soviet state owned Awtowelo corporation. In late 1948, the Awtowelo management instructed the Suhl factory to create a new motorcycle design. The Simson designers decided that the best way to meet the requirements laid down within the Awtowelo remit, was to take inspiration from (though not copy) the pre war 250cc BMW R25 motorcycle. The machine finally went public on the 1st May 1950 with a production run of twenty five AWO425 machines. The 4 symbolised the 4 stroke motor design and the 25 represented the 250cc displacement.
During the following twelve years, a total of 124,000 of these plunger sprung machines were built, though in 1955 the original model was re-designated as the AWO420T or Touring model. This was because of the imminent release of a new swing arm model which had the distinction of being named the AWO425S or Sports model, selling an additional 84,000 units.
In 1957 the name of Simson was once more resurrected and all subsequent vehicles to leave the factory gates were badged as Simsons.
Then with a cruel stroke of a pen, Walter Ulbricht’s government made a policy decision in the early 1960’s that all motorcycles produced within East Germany would be two stroke machines, because they were cheaper to produce, simple to maintain and powerful for their cubic capacity. The practical upshot of this piece of politically motivated vandalism was that MZ in Zschopau were solely assigned motorcycle production rights, whereas the Suhl based Simson factory were allocated the brief of moped manufacture. Production of the two AWO 425 models ceased forever in 1962.
Their highly successful Schwalbe scooter has now gained cult status throughout unified Germany, though prices for decent restored models are still easily affordable and spare parts are still plentiful due to the sheer numbers sold. But in the late 70’s and through the 80’s Simson were attempting to go head to head in the UK with the Yamaha RD50 and Honda’s SS50 and subsequent MB50 for the spotty faced youth market. The Simson 3 speed S50 was superseded by the 4 speed S51 sports moped and enduro models. They were well constructed, cheap (approximately half the cost of a Japanese equivalent) and pretty quick too. The S51 would easily do 40mph on the flat, topping out at 45mph with said ‘youf’ prone along the tank.
Unfortunately (in our humble opinion), they weren’t as fashionable as their far eastern rivals, often being bought by parents on price alone, rather than as a result of true desire by the pre 125cc Wannabies. Sales numbers were therefore never that high and imports pretty much petered out after Wilf Green lost his IFA importers concession in 1989. The last few being sold off cheaply to clear stocks at the princely sum of £1000 for four bikes. These days, in the UK you’ll be lucky to see any form of Simson on the road at all, though I’ve noticed recently they are starting to re-emerge from sheds, often as non runners on Ebay. If ever you travel around Europe however, Simson’s can be found buzzing around everywhere like flies.
Phil Speakman. MZRC GS
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