A Brief History of the Marque
The Presto was produced from 1901 to 1940 in Chemnitz, with the company name changing three times over that period. Founded in 1897 as Günther & Co. it ceased motorcycle production with the onset of the first war, reappearing in 1921 as Presto Werke and then in 1927 became NAG-Presto Werke AG.
Prior to WWI the motorcycles had Zedel, Minerva and Fafnir engines, and models included a pacer (Stehermaschine) with a gigantic V-twin. The next series used Alba engines, and after the merger with NAG they built lightweights with Fichtel & Sachs 74, 98 and possibly 125cc engines. From 1933 to 1934 they built Lastendreiräder (cargo tricycles) using the 98cc F&S.
Immediately prior to WWII they also built the Presto Saxonette with a single frame tube which served as the tank, the cradle for the front forks and the base for the support of the seat. It was powered by a 50cc Fichtel & Sachs engine built into the rear wheel.
Models
1904 Presto 2 1-2 PS
1905 Presto V-twin
1910 Presto Stehermaschine (Pacer)
1923 Presto Reichsfahrmodell
1930 Presto Typ 200
1930 Presto Ballon
1933 Presto Kickstarter
1936 Presto Typ 208
1939 Presto Typ 150 Saxonette
1940 Presto Typ 212 Tourenmodell
1956 BFC-Presto 1956
The firm also built quite a variety of bicycles, automobiles and trucks.
Sources: GTU Oldtimerservice, presto-chemnitz.de, Automobilia 85-45.
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