Wasn't Santa...

[montmil]

...but my brother who gifted me today with a beautiful book entitled The ART of BMW - 85 Years of Motorcycling Excellence.

Published in 2008 through MBI Publishing Co and Motorbooks, this truly is an art book. Fantastic photography beginning with the 1932 R32 and wrapping up with the 2007 R1200S. BMW history accompanies each bike selection. Not intended as a complete BMW historical tome, the book does provide a visual tour that is quite breathtaking.

The included model selections are from the extensive Peter Nettesheim collection and showcase the make's progressive engineering refinements.

I'll be lost for hours... Thanks, bro'

Monte  

[Ed Miller]

Cool.  Does it say (definitively) what the roundel is supposed to be?  

[Frank_M]

Neat. I'm going to keep it in mind for some of my nephews who are all Beemer riders. As well as for myself. Does it include any mention of some of the early long-distance travelers, like Danny Liska? Some of the first brochure material I ever received regarding the BMW line emphasized the bike's endurance and long-distance adventuring, including a pic of Liska who rode from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.

[montmil]

Steady on, lads! I'm still gawking at the purty pictures!

I'll catch up on the text when family and grandchildren head home... on Monday. We will likely have run out of food by then.

The book does appear to contain a considerable amount of historical and developmental information. Did I mention the fantastic photography? There's even an R65LS featured.

Must mention that the Chinese have mastered the high quality printing and bookbinding trade.

Monte

[scottyintex]

In World War I ......BMW made aircraft engines. The roundel is suppose to be a spinning aircraft propeller. Moving pictures made in those days of a propeller spinning fast made made a patter much like the roundel. I saw this on some Television program on the history of BMW years ago.

[not-so-fast-ed]

That's what I remember hearing too, Scotty.

[MrRiden]

Scotty, Ed,
I've heard that propeller thing also as well as comments by some who scoff at the idea and explain that blue and white were simply the colors of Bavaria, no propeller intended. Whichever. I still like the Propeller explanation but as to which is true? Maybe the boys over on http://kleineboxer.de/ can say. They did clear up the whole cow issue a while back. Anyway enjoy what sounds like a great book Monte!
rich

[Yikes]

I still like to think about how that boxer engine between my knees is really an evolved and refined airplane engine.  Makes zooming down the road even more enjoyable.

[aussie]

I too thought it was supposed to a be a representation of a propeller...

I still like to think about how that boxer engine between my knees is really an evolved and refined airplane engine.  Makes zooming down the road even more enjoyable.

Yikes - if that engine is between your knees I think you need to raise the seat just a tad,   - but having said that I must admit I've 'flown' a couple of times when I hit a bit of a bump I didn't see.

[suecanada]

Here's an explanation about the roundel from one of our Vintage club executive guys who represented the Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Museum. I wonder if he's right?? I have no idea how to prove or disprove it:
"The blue and white roundel does not symbolize a propeller spinning against a blue sky. ....it is a combination of the RAPP logo (Company which became BMW) and the reverse of the Bavarian coat of arms, since the use of the National Coat of Arms was prohibited by law for commercial applications. The airplane propeller sounds a lot more interesting, however it isn't true."

I agree with his last sentence!!

[Justin B.]

Sue, I have read something similar to that somewhere.  That source also indicated that sometime in the 20s or 30s either a company officer or maybe one if their racers (I can't remember) made a remark alluding to the image representing a spinning propeller...

[Ed Miller]

Several of the preceding replies illuminate why I posed my previous post.   [smiley=beehive.gif]

[MrRiden]

Well,
A quick google of RAPP logo returned the following. http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/roundel-myth.pdfSeems to dovetail with what I've heard and what Sue shared. An interesting read if you're into this tale.
rich

[Melena]

Interesting read, Rich.  That says it all.   Thanks!

[Semper Gumby]

Cool.  Does it say (definitively) what the roundel is supposed to be?  

I've heard that it is a stylized picture of what a propellor would look like on on a slow speed camera shot - Kinda blurred (the blue part).  

TTFN,