Sitta 120 cc : the pioneer of German scooters

Sitta FM120K - 120cc

The pioneer of German scooters

Remarkable: designing a scooter where all the style is concentrated in the front of the rear fairing, reminiscent of a car grill. The sides of the fairing also open like a bonnet to give easy access to the engine - clearly inspired by car design.

First pioneer, eventually laggard
The factory Ordemann & Hauser, Hummel Works, was founded in 1949 in Sittensen (between Hamburg and Bremen) by aeronautical engineer Helmut Ordemann, who dreamed of having his own scooter. As early as July that year, the first model was built - the Sitta thus became one of the first German scooters. Early production began with 2 scooters a day, equipped with JLO engines of 98 or 118 cm³, while frames and tanks were sourced externally.

The first models had a monotube frame with a large central tunnel and only two gears. In 1951, a new frame design by Swedish engineer Engelbrecht, associated with the factory Monark. This was an open double cradle frame (later even a triple frame with horizontal reinforcement) with thick tubes and a flat floorplate. The front fork remained telescopic, but rear suspension was still missing. The Sitta 120 got this new frame, but was replaced by a 125cc model in the same year, followed by 150 and 175cc versions. From 1953 to 1954, there were also Streamliner-models (150-200 cc, with 12" wheels) with a heavily padded front in the style of the Bastert and Maicomobil.

Sitta outside Germany: the Belgian link with Presto and Omega JLO
In Belgium, the Sitta was imported by N.V. Presto in Brussels. Presto also built its own motorbikes between 1951 and 1954 under the name Omega, or Omega JLO. The frames of these motorbikes were also designed by engineer Engelbrecht from Monark. Presto used engine blocks from German manufacturer ILO. Although ILO (Esperanto for "tool") was the official name, the brand was often written as JLO - a result of the factory logo in which the stylised "I" closely resembled a "J". This probably explains why Presto chose the brand name Omega JLO instead of Omega ILO.

The end of an artisanal brand
Sitta produced not only scooters, but also motorbikes under the name Credette (from 50 to 250cc), including a 250cc two-cylinder, and three-wheeled vans - all with JLO engines. Despite exports to countries including Belgium, Sitta remained small-scale: in 1952/53, 60 people were employed and four scooters were produced daily. By comparison, at Glass rolled 250 by then Gogo scooters per day off the belt. In 1954, Ordemann gave up and returned to aviation. Only the Credette mopeds remained available until 1956.