German pre-war mystery

Going through old family albums, positive memories often come to mind. There will be some things that you still remember but others don't. Like Berlin resident Christian Treue, who remembers the car that his grandfather had in the 1930's, and that it was burnt out during the Battle of Berlin on 23 April 1945.

Christian cannot, however, remember the make of the car. He thinks it might have been a Belgian or Swedish make, as Austrian and German cars were confiscated at the beginning of the war.

Who can tell him what car it is that we see here in the photos?

Published:

Monday January 18th, 2021

Thomas Ulrich

24 January 2021, 18:30

Hallo I saw the article only now. Dietzler 1928 sais the car with this number belonged toHans Dillges , Neukölln Richardplatz 4, but no make. My 1931 Dietzler says like 1932 Wilhelm Krell. I would suggest that Mr. Treue should contact Mr. Kai Uwe Merz. At least one AGA type C has survived.

Göran Flank

20 January 2021, 23:11

The car in the photo is an AGA type C from about 1924. Manufactured in Berlin - Lichtenberg and with body by Voss in Bielefeld.

About 10 000 AGA cars were produced 1920 - 1925 and only about 25 remain today worldwide. The AGA automobile is based on the Belgian FN Type 1250 from 1914. AGA in Berlin was owned by Hugo Stinnes 1922-1925. His daughter, Clarenore Stinnes, was a famous German racing driver and competed with AGA cars early in her career.

More information in the excellent book by Kai-Uwe Merz: Der AGA Wagen.

Christian Treue Enkel von Bernhard Fröhlich

19 January 2021, 15:30

Hi liebe helfende Interessenten,
Danke an Ingo Jost, wo hast du ein der artiges Verzeichnis her? Das stimmt, mein Großvater und meine Eltern wohnten bis Mitte der 30er Jahre in dem Haus Crossener Str. 13. Beim 2. Bild hast du dich geirrt und einen Zahlendreher in der Nummer, aber trotzdem super.
Danke auch an Anders Svenfeld für deinen hilfreichen Kommentar.
Und Danke an Michael Schlenger zu der historischen Erläuterung.
Danke auch an Herrn Klein, dass er die Plattform genutzt hat, um die Fotos zu veröffentlichen und mir in der Familienchronik weiter zu helfen.
Vielleicht hat jemand ja mal so einen AGA Wagen Typ C, fahrbereit, dann bekunde ich mal mein Interesse mir das Stück anzusehen.

Es grüßt euch recht herzlich Christian Treue aus Berlin

_______________________________________________________________________________
Hi dear helpers,
Thanks you Ingo Jost, where did you get such a directory? That's right, my grandfather and my parents lived in the house at Crossener Str. 13 until the mid-30s. You were wrong with the second picture and the number rotated, but still great.
Thanks also to Anders Svenfeld for your helpful comment.
And thanks to Michael Schlenger for the historical explanation.
Thanks also to Mr. Klein for using the platform to publish the photos and to help me with the family chronicle.
Maybe has someone of those AGA type C cars, ready to drive, then I'll show my interest to see the piece.

I warmly greet you Christian Treue from Berlin

Ingo Jost

18 January 2021, 22:43

And two Years later with Mr Fröhlich.

Ingo Jost

18 January 2021, 22:42

Dietzlers Car Adressbook lists 2 different Owners for IA 30885 . Mr Krell from Lichtenberg in the Edition from 1932

Anthony Green

18 January 2021, 10:16

Here's a link to a picture gallery of Thulin cars, including the A25 model from 1925, which looks just like the car in Christian Treue's photo. The pictures are mostly of the same cars taken from different angles.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=thulin+a25&qpvt=thulin+a25&form=IGRE&first=1&tsc=ImageBasicHover

Anders Svenfelt

18 January 2021, 06:18

1924-27 German AGA Typ C. Belgian or Swedish marque not a bad guessing as the German car was licence built in Sweden as the Thulin and orginally based on a design for F.N. near Belgian Liége. Also the Berlin car buying public in the 1920s was very fond of foregin cars.

Michael Schlenger

18 January 2021, 10:10

I agree. One might add, that the owner of the AGA obviously felt the need to make the car look more modern by mounting aftermarket front bumpers. The reason for the car not being requisitioned at the start of WW2 was simply the fact that it was seriously outdated. That explains why many cars from the 1920 survived the "Third Reich" including upmarket US cars which were very common in Germany by the end of the 1920s.

German pre-war mystery

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