Tony Fokker's Austrian adventures

[GrzeM]

Hi!
I'm looking for info about connections of Tony Fokker and Austria-Hungary during Great War.
I'm mostly interested in some 'extraordinary' stories, interesting events e.t.c.
I know that he bought MAG factory in the final stage of war, but he was present in AH much earlier.
Cheers!
Grzegorz

[leo]

Many of Fokker's designs were powered by rotary engines which required the use of castor oil as a lubricant, A-H had neither the original or ersatz variety and this almost precluded the possibility of using those planes in the kuk LFT.

I didn't know that Fokker had purchased MAG, but now I understand why that firm was chosen to build the DVII.

[GrzeM]

Leo!
Also the D.VI, E.V/DVIII and Dr.I (!) but they were only prototypes.
Look here:
http://air.wz.cz/9-s.htm

Cheers!
G.

[leo]

Hi!
Thanks for the information concerning Fokker and MAG.

When did Fokker buy MAG?

[AchimEngels]

4. Die »Allgemeine Ungarische Maschinenfabrik A.G.« 1917 bis 1918 *

Die »Magyar Altalanos Gepgyar RT« (Abk. M.A.G.), so die ursprüngliche ungarische Firmenbezeichnung der »Ungarische Allgemeine Maschinenfabrik A.G.« wurde bereits im Jahre 1894 in Mâtyâsföld bei Budapest in Ungarn gegründet und befasste sich in Ihren Anfangsjahren mit der Produktion der noch jungen Industriemaschinen.
* * *
Im Jahre 1915 eröffnete die Firma eine Abteilung für Heeresbedarf, darunter auch die "Flugzeug-Abteilung". Seit dieser Zeit schon zeigte Fokker Interesse daran, dass diese Firma für ihn Flugzeuge in Lizenz fertigte und ihm als Bindeglied zur Österreich-Ungarischen Flars dienen sollte. Vorwiegend baute die M.A.G. aber »Austro-Daimler«-Flugmotoren in Lizenz, von denen sie bis zum Kriegsende 733 fertig stellte. Die ersten Flugzeuge die bei der M.A.G. in Lizenz gefertigt wurden waren die Typen Fokker M.18, M.19, M.21 sowie Fokker D.VII. Bis zum Kriegsende stellte die Firma etwa 255 Flugzeuge her. Darunter auch solche die nicht von Fokker stammten 117.

Im Spätjahr 1917 beteiligte sich Fokker mit einer Finanzeinlage an der Unternehmung. Friedrich Wilhelm Seekatz, ein langjähriger Mitarbeiter Fokkers, war aber bereits ab 1916 der kaufmännische Leiter der Flugzeugabteilung der Firma M.A.G. was sich durch die ersten Verhandlungen Fokkers mit der M.A.G. so ergab.

4. The »Allgemeine Ungarische Maschinenfabrik A.G.« 1917 to 1918 *

The *»Magyar Altalanos Gepgyar RT« (Abk. M.A.G.), which was the original Hungary name of the company was founded in 1894 at Mâtyâsföld near Budapest in Hungary and was dealing in the beginnings with the manufacturing of the new upcoming industrial machines.[sup]1[/sup]

In 1915 the company opened a small compartment for the production of war suplies to execute orders for the Army. Among this compartment was also one for the production of aircraft. Since that time Fokker showed an interest in the company constructing aircraft for him under license for it could well form a junction between him and the Austro-Hungarian Flars. The M.A.G. however produced the "Austro-Daimler" Aero engines in the major part under license of which it completed some 733 until the war ended. The first aircraft that have been produced by the M.A.G. under license have been the *Fokker M.18, M.19, M.21 as well as Fokker D.VII. Until the war ended the company had finished and delivered some approx. 255 Aircraft. Among these have also been "None-Fokker´s".

In late 1917 Fokker aquired an interest in the company. Wilhelm Seekatz, who was related to Fokker for some years allready, was the sales manager of the aircraft compartement at M.A.G. since 1916 what was a result of the first negotiations Fokker had with the M.A.G.

[sup]1[/sup] In the archive of the Fokker-Team-Schorndorf is a drawing of a control grip for a Fokker-aircraft that was produced under license by M.A.G. On this drawing is given - beside some notes of things produced by the M.A.G. - the date the company was founded.

[GrzeM]

Great info Achim!
Danke Schön!
G.

[leo]

Achim:

Thanks for your reply. May I safely assume MAG did not survive the war?