Heinrich Kleyer of Frankfurt started making bicycles in 1886, then added typewriters to his products. He fitted engines to his bicycles, and in 1899 built an experimental motor-car, which was put into production in the follow¬ing year. He followed the Renault system, powering his car with a front-mounted De Dion-Bouton en¬gine of 3.5 h.p., and coupling it with Renault transmission—via a cone clutch, sliding-pinion gear-box, and shaft drive to a live rear axle. This little car, which was made from 1900 to 1903, and is illustrated here, weighed under 8 cwt. and could reach 20 m.p.h. The Adler was developed as more powerful De Dion single-cylinder engines be¬came available, a 4.5-h.p. model appearing in 1901 and a 6 h.p. and 8 h.p. in 1902. The last-named was good for 25 m.p.h. In 1903 Edmund Rumpler joined the firm, and instituted a new range of types of larger, two- and four-cylinder cars. He also produced an experimental Adler with unit con¬struction of engine and gear-box, and swing-axle independent suspension.
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