# Dresch

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**Dresch et Cie** (1920–1949)[1][2] was one of France's more important [motorcycle](/source/Motorcycle) manufacturers.[3] It was founded in [Étampes](/source/%C3%89tampes), [France](/source/France) by the eccentric multi-millionaire [French-Algerian](/source/Pied-Noir) industrialist Henri Dresch,[4] whose other business interests included an upmarket spa hotel. Within five months of its founding, it was able to rise to the forefront of its specialty,[1] going on to use advanced designs such as press-steel frame and forks and shaft drives, and later moved to the Everest factory in [Paris](/source/Paris)'s 15th arrondissement.

The [company](/source/Company)'s products ranged from 98cc to 246cc single-[cylinder](/source/Cylinder_(engine)) two-stroke machines[3] to luxury 750cc four-cylinder model. Dresch used proprietary engines from various suppliers including Aubier Dunne, Chaise, [JAP](/source/JA_Prestwich_Industries_Ltd), [MAG](/source/Motosacoche), Stainless and Train. In 1930, it produced a 498cc [inline-twin](/source/Inline-twin_engine) model similar to the later British [Sunbeam](/source/Sunbeam_S7_and_S8) models.[5]

Dresch was a large [company](/source/Company) that produced up to 10,000 solo and sidecar-mounted motorcycles per year [citation needed] and bought other motorcycle companies such as Le Grimpeur in 1926, PS, Everest and in 1928, DFR. It aimed to sell good-quality, low-cost vehicles. The company built motorcycles for the Paris police. During its history,[6] it went through numerous restructurings as *Général Motos Cycles* in 1929, Dresch-Macam, DFR-Macam in 1932 and, ultimately, SA Dreschmotor.[7][8]

Production ended in 1939 and the factory was [mothballed](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mothball), due to the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), but the company attempted to restart after it afterwards and launch its planned "Baltimore" model, a 350cc single with [shaft drive](/source/Driveshaft#Motorcycle_driveshafts). Dresch never resumed production; however, a [prototype](/source/Prototype) Baltimore model was eventually shown at an [exhibition](/source/Exhibition) in 1948 and the company continued producing spare parts into the 1950s. Unfortunately, pre-orders were insufficient and production was halted.

## External links

- [History in French of Dresch and its constituent companies, with many illustrations](http://t2frx3.online.fr/dresch.htm)

## Bibliography

- Erwin Tragatsch, Alle Motorräder 1894-1981: Eine Typengeschichte. 2500 Marken aus 30 Ländern, Stuttgart 1997. ISBN 3-87943-410-7

## References

1. PME et croissance économique: l'expérience française des années 1920. Michel Lescure. Économica, 1996

1. Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles. Erwin Tragatsch, 30 Jul 1992

1. The Illustrated Directory of Motorcycles. Micro De Cet, Mirco De Cet. MotorBooks International, 13 Feb 2003

1. Katya Pellegrino. Silverback Books, 15 Feb 2006

1. Les Motocyclettes Henri Dresch. François-Henri Denise. F.-H. Denise, 1983

1. Liaisons, Issues 276-290. Seine (France). Préfecture de police. Prefecture de police., 1986

1. Denise Francois-Henri, Henri The Motorcycle Dresch, 1983

1. The Motocyclettiste, No. 17 and 75

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dresch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.