Fischer (Germany, Switzerland) - AllCarIndex

Fischer was a Swiss automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 by Martin Fischer, who had previously worked with Paul Vorbrod on the Turicum cars. The company initially operated as FischerWagen AG in Zurich until 1910, when it was renamed Automobilfabrik Brunau. Fischer's first vehicle was a 14/16hp car featuring a four-cylinder engine, friction-disk transmission, and chain final drive, closely resembling the Turicum model. Production began in collaboration with Weidmann & Co., and between 1909 and 1910, approximately 70 units were completed and sold.

The company introduced several innovations during its brief existence. In 1911, Fischer launched a new sleeve-valve four-cylinder engine, which utilized a unique design with elliptic curves to actuate crescent-shaped sleeves. This engine, with a capacity of 2722cc, produced 35bhp and was paired with a patented four-speed gearbox that had significantly fewer components than standard designs. The car was well-received at the Berlin Auto Show in 1911, and production from 1911 to 1913 totaled nearly 200 cars, primarily sold in Germany, Great Britain, and Brazil.

Fischer also ventured into the six-cylinder market, producing cars with a sleeve-valve engine of 4084cc that delivered 40bhp. The company entered into a licensing agreement with Mondex-Magic of New York, which led to the production of Fischer cars in the United States. However, the outbreak of World War I in 1914 forced the closure of the Swiss factory. By 1919, there were 89 Fischer cars registered in Switzerland.

After the war, Martin Fischer continued to explore automotive designs, proposing a cycle car with tandem seating powered by a MAG V2 motorcycle engine. However, this project was ultimately canceled after some prototypes were built. Although a German company acquired the rights to a new sleeve-valve engine, no further production occurred. Martin Fischer passed away in 1947, and today, a Fischer chassis and tourer from 1912-13 are preserved at the Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne.