DKW 1931 Block 300 293 cc 1 cyl TS 3412

DKW 1931 “Block 300” 293 cc twin port two stroke frame # 209912 engine # 296285/74

Jorgen Skafte Rasmussen, a Dane by birth, establishes his first company in Saxony after studying Engineering in Mittweida. In 1904 he sets up an apparatus engineering company in Chemnitz, three years later moving to Zschopau, in the Erzgebirge region, where he begins to experiment with steam-driven motor vehicles in 1916.
After the war, Rasmussen meets engineer Hugo Ruppe, who creates a small, 2-stroke 25 cc engine for Rasmussen. It’s intended to be a toy for young boys but is soon redesigned as a 118cc auxiliary propulsion for a bicycle. This little engine is a great success and soon Rasmussen’s company supplies engines to seventy other German manufacturers. By 1922, more than 30,000 DKW engines have been produced and the company is making its own line of motorized bicycles and motorcycles under the DKW name. Within four years, the majority of German motorcycles either are DKWs or are powered by a DKW engine. By 1928, DKW is the largest manufacturer of motorcycles in the world.
The 1931 range consists of a variety of models from 200 up to 600 cc. The “Block” models are new in the range, they are available in 200, 300 and 350 cc variations and feature unit construction of engine and gearbox with geared primary drive, giving a smooth and neat look to the engines. They have pressed steel frame and come with sophisticated pressed steel panel handlebars that feature integrated levers and built-in clock and VDO speedometer. The Block 300 has bore x stroke of 74 x 68 mm and delivers 8 hp, good for a top speed of around 90 km.

The machine we present probably spent her entire life in The Netherlands. She carries the registration plate G-65238; this number was assigned on May 22, 1929, to a Mr Corstiaan de Vries in Zaandam, close to Amsterdam. With the machine comes an extensive information file with photos of the Block 300 in unrestored condition, various old documents, restoration notes and drawings, parts list, manual et cetera. The file also includes a list of work that was carried out with cost specification, and a number of photographs from the restoration process.
This early well-designed DKW has been restored with care for detail and comes with full electric lighting with Bosch horn, current Dutch registration and practical centre stand.