Sachs - Panther

Panther bicycle with Sachs engine (see also: Fichtel & Sachs)

Pantherwerke (Panther Works) was formed in 1896 by Ernst Kuhlmann & Co in Magdeburg. Almost in the same time, Peter Bankhaus started the Braunschweiger Fahrradwerke AG in Braunschweig, to manufacture „Brunsviga" bicycles. In 1907, Bankhaus bought the Panther company and decided to continue the Panther bicycle brand. The Magdeburg factory was closed and production was moved to Braunschweig. Some motorcycles were made between 1907 and 1909, too, as well as sewing machines under the brand names Panther and Brunsviga. Through WW1 and the 20s Pantherwerke continued bicycle production, but motorcycle production was abandoned until 1931. Instead, they manufactured full-size prams (baby carriages) and doll-sized prams. At the beginning of the 30s, when Fichtel & Sachs started to offer excellent engines, parts, staff training and after-sales service, many German cycle companies, including Panther, decided to add two-speed lightweight motorcycle (first 78cc, then 98cc) to their product range.

After WW2, with restrictions on production of large capacity motorcycles in Germany, the moped and cyclemotor market opened up and in 1953 Panther made mopeds such as the Bobby (with a Sachs engine) or Panther Baby in 1951 (with Berini front-mounted cycle-attachment engine, built under license). Pantherwerke AG still exists in Germany, based in Löhne, Westphalia.