The BOLLE and FIEDLER Automobilbau G.m.b.H from Germany is unknown to most prewar-car enthusiasts..
In the Beaulieu Encyclopedia you´ll find just three lines about the company´s history, even under an incorrect name. B.F. instead of B.F.A. - and no picture is shown. The same applies to Nick Georgano´s "Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars".
The 2019 edition of Werner Oswalds´s standard reference "Deutsche Autos 1920 - 1945" at least provides a photo and some basic information. On the internet - believed by many to be omniscient - alomost nothing is available on B.F.A. .
So, when I found an emblem with the three letters B.F.A., I couldn´t be sure that it once belonged to a same-named car.
Several years later, however, I happened to come across a dozen of contemporary pictures showing B.F.A. motorcars which enabled me to outline the history of this obscure yet fascinating car manufacturer. Here is the source of the following black/white fotos: Deutsches Technikmuseum, Historisches Archiv: Signatur VI.2 - E365
 |
| ultra rare B.F.A. radiator emblem |
| Size | 5.0 cm |
|---|---|
| Year | 1922 - 1925 |
| Estimate |  |
The following photo shows the B.F.A. "factory" with 4 mechanics and the two owners Mr. Bolle and Mr. Fiedler. On the sign above the left door it says: " B.F. Automobilbau G.m.b.H " in the last line.
 |
| Factory in Berlin - Charlottenburg, Morsestr. 18. (photo: Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Foto: Historisches Archiv ) |
Shortly after its formation, the BOLLE - FIEDLER company built a race car which participated in the famous AVUS race in Berlin in 1923. Here it can be seen waiting at the starting line.
 |
| B.F.A. at the starting line on the occasion of the 1923 AVUS race ( photo: Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Foto: Historisches Archiv ) |
The next photo shows the start of the AVUS race in autumn 1923. The car on the far left is an OMIKRON race car and the second from the right is the B.F.A. racer:
 |
| photo : Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Foto: Historisches Archiv |
 |
| B.F.A. employed a self-designed 3-cylinder two stroke engine. The lettering B.F.A. is clearly visible on the engine block ! ( photo: Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Foto: Historisches Archiv ) |
The next photo shows a B.F.A. race car at full speed on the occasion of the 1924 AVUS race:
 |
| photo : Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Foto: Historisches Archiv |
The last picture is a particulary important document, since it shows the only B.F.A. car ever made for use on ordinary roads:
 |
| This one-off was registered in Berlin in 1923 ( photo : Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Historisches Archiv ) |
 |
| In the enlarged section, the unique radiator emblem is clearly visible. Als see the following photomontage: |
 |
 |
| photo: Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Foto: Historisches Archiv |
 |
| Only four cars were built. Here you see number 4. (photo: Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Foto: Historisches Archiv ) |
Three race cars and one car for use on ordinairy roads- that comes to a total production of just 4 cars. As the B.F.A. emblem from my collection is clearly a vintage piece and shows traces of solder it is highly likely that it once adorned the radiator of one of these 4 cars !
If you want to learn more about Carl Bolle go to the website: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Bolle(Flieger)
 |
| Emblem made by A.STÜBBE / BERLIN |
B.F.A. was a short-lived company like many others in the 1920s: the "factory" in the photo below was in use only from autumn 1922 till autumn 1925.
 |
| photo: Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin, Foto: Historisches Archiv |
But this was not the end of the factory. I found an advertisement in which one could read that electric boat engines were now offered by Fiedler alone; apparently Carl Bolle had left the company at that time.
 |
| Mysterious picture of the engine showing an internal combustion engine and not an electric motor. Besides, on the engine block you can still find the old company name: BFA |
For more emblems see older posts or top right ( list of car makers ).
When using a smartphone please use the button webview.
Unbelievable! I once tried to find any useful information too, but not successful. You have to dig really deep to find unpublished material like this. Still cannot believe to see the emblem on the photos. Very stunning.
ReplyDeleteAutomotive archaeology at its best!
Automotive archaeology at its best!
another comment:
ReplyDeleteAllein die wenigen Fotos auf Ihrer Homepage eröffenen mir einen großen Blick in die Röhr-Geschichte. Speziell die Fotos der Rennwagen und des AVUS Kleinwagenrennens vom 30. September 1923 machen einen erweiterten Blick in die Berliner- und auch die hessische Automobilgeschichte möglich. Sie haben mit Ihrer Aktivität einen weiteren verschütteten Baustein der Automobilgeschichte wiederentdeckt und gerade das macht unsere Arbeit an der Spitze des Eisberges Technikgeschichte mehr als wichtig!
Weiter so in Verbundenheit und gemeinsamen Bestreben.
Werner Schollenberger