History of Považská Bystrica - Zbrojovka Brno Factory 2

This article concerns the Zbrojovka Brno branch factory at Považská Bystrica, Slovakia which produced Mausers of the likes of vz24, G24(t) and Kar98k.
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Excerpt from the article http://www.jawa-50.cz/clanek/povazske-strojarne-historie.html (the article is in Slovak, use "translate into English" ap if available):

History of Považské Engineering and Motorcycle Production in Slovakia
Author: Ladislav Ševčík ("Pajka")
updated: 22.11.2017

Materials: source of information: Manen Veteran Club: www.veteran-manin.eu ,
historical facts and proofreading: Zdeno Metzker st.

Establishment of a company and take off before the production of motorcycles
ZVL Považské strojírny Považská Bystrica - administrative building
Administrative building of Považské strojíren

In 1870, the Georgian armor company, Georg Roth, founded the Bratislava company in order to expand the volume of cartridge production, a subsidiary called "G. Roth, Vienna and Pressburg ". From then on January 1, 1918 became the joint stock company "Pressburg G. Roth AG" (Bratislavská J. Roth as). The decisive development of engineering in Slovakia (and in Moravia) was helped by the decision of the Supreme Council of Defense of the State, according to which arms companies had to strategically move their production into protected hinterland so as to ensure the defense of Czechoslovakia during the interwar period. Based on an agreement with ČZ Strakonice, a branch of ČZ in Uherský Brod (1936) was established. But back to Slovakia. The Ministry of National Defense on March 15, 1928 asked Roth to move inland. Roth was pressed against the wall by the ministry's deliberations, it threatened her by canceling state orders if she did not move. The relocation of the company at its own expense would have been liquidated even for Roth (the "Patronka" Bratislava), even with the acceptance of the increased ammunition price by 13 to 16%. The situation was used by Zbrojovka Brno, which did not have its own production of ammunition. The Brno Zbrojovka managed to negotiate the purchase of most of the shares from Roth and at the same time obtained the pre-emption right for the remaining shares. The new financial situation of the branch enabled the construction of two new plants in the Trenčín Region, where there was good infrastructure and labor surplus. In the valley of Váh in Považská Bystrica, July 7, 1929, the construction of two companies (smaller) Czechoslovak munitions and metalworking plants (former "Patronka" Bratislava, Roth) and the larger branches of Zbrojovka Brno, plant II began. In 1931 Zbrojovka Brno bought the remaining shares of "Patronka" but who remained self-sufficient with their own guidance. The merger of both companies took place on 1 January 1935 and the name of the company changed to Czechoslovak Armory Brno, Závod 2, Považská Bystrica. The rapid economic development on the left bank of the Váh did not stop even the world economic crisis. The location of the factories reduced the cost of its construction, as there was abundance of sand, gravel, and wood in the valley of Váh. As early as 1931, the plants started to produce, and in the late 1930s produced, in addition to ammunition, metallurgical blanks made of aluminum and copper alloys. for there was an abundance of sand, gravel in the valley of Vah, and in the surrounding forests there was enough wood. As early as 1931, the plants started to produce, and in the late 1930s produced, in addition to ammunition, metallurgical blanks made of aluminum and copper alloys. for there was an abundance of sand, gravel in the valley of Vah, and in the surrounding forests there was enough wood. As early as 1931, the plants started to produce, and in the late 1930s produced, in addition to ammunition, metallurgical blanks made of aluminum and copper alloys.

On 23 March 1939, the German occupied the factory and incorporated the arms into the Hermann Göring Werke Group, which supplied the infantry ammunition for Germany (the second armor factory in Germany was the second largest ammunition manufacturer for World War II Wehrmacht).

Half a year after the liberation, on October 27, 1945, the entire Zbrojovka Brno (including factory 2) was nationalized. On 7.3.1946 a separate company Považské strojárne np, Považská Bystrica was established. All ties to Brno Zbrojovka were disrupted. During this period, the company produced various non-produced products (including furniture, for example) and was looking for new applications in the peaceful machinery industry.

Manufacture of motorcycles Manet M90 (1947 - 1951)
Nationalized enterprises of traditional Czechoslovak producers Jawa and ČZ were forced to surrender their small-size motocles (Jawa 100 Robot and ČZ 98) in 1946 under the government regulation. Považské strojírny, still looking for a peace production program, had the opportunity to push for their own "motocola". After all, the Jawa and the Czechoslovak companies were before the economic crisis with the arms and the introduction of motorcycle production was a successful step for them. The success with the production of motocles can be expected also in Slovakia. The nonconceptions of the government, allowing the development and production of a motocola, has raised a number of criticisms from high places (eg Jaroslav Frei , director of Jaw), but the revival of post-war engineering in Slovakia prevailed over the personal interests of established motorcycle manufacturers.

Business Director Ing. Jaroslav Kubík asked Ing. Josef Ullman , whether he would not work in Považské strojíren. Ullman, who just before the war and during the war worked in the Zbrojovka Brno on the development of a motorcycle with a two-stroke engine, agreed with a job offer and moved to Považská Bystrica in 1946. The designer came to Považské strojíren with empty hands, but with valuable experience. That he brought the documentation from the prototype Z2 motocle, or perhaps the documentation of a Jawa motorcycle, is a mere myth.

To the assembly of Ing. Rudolph Zniva , a native of Moravian Nove Hrozenkov (Vsetín district), who worked since 1936 in Považské strojírny, was replaced by Ullman . In addition, the former motorcycle engineer Jawy and subsequently Zbrojovka Brno Vincenc Sklenář (the author of the prototype Ogar 350 OHC ) was added. The fourth reinforcement from Zbrojovka in Brno was the designer Zdenek Nagy. Nagy got the old Puch engine for inspiration, Ullman provided a deposed frame from Ogara. Together they developed a motocola (from today's view, rather a small motorcycle) Manet M90. The engine was a two-stroke two-cylinder single-cylinder, the arrangement of the frame resembled the concept of the larger Jawa and ČZ motorcycles. At the turn of 1946-1947 several prototypes were created. The name Manet was derived from the nearby Manin Mountain, similar to the names of other products of the company (such as refrigerators). Serial production of the motocola started at the end of 1947.

Motorcycle Manet M90 (1947)

The availability of motorcycles (as well as motorcycles of competing brands Jawa and ČZ) for ordinary citizens was not good at first. The mantiels were overloaded and suffered from several design deficiencies that could not be removed in time. The problems were not only with the second speed drop, but also with the carburetors Jikov and the PAL igniters. The faint reputation of the Manettes was even more amplified by the overly critical and ridiculous "reviews" in the contemporary press.

Note: In the then broad category of "motokolo" included not only bicycles with an auxiliary engine, but also small motorcycles with or without pedals. Crucial was the engine content not exceeding 100 cm 3 . The "moped" category, a small motorcycle with a motor up to 50 cm 3 and auxiliary pedals, did not exist at that time.
The destiny of the Maneta was sealed in 1951, when motorcycle production was again replaced by weapons production, then for the Korean War. Despite the complicated birth and difficult fate, Manet 90 became the first Slovak motorcycle to be remembered with pride. In total, 37,630 pieces were produced.

Manufacture of motorcycles Jawa 50, SK-90 and Manet scooters
After the end of the Korean War in 1953, there was a downturn in arms, weapons production continued in the Czech Zbrojovka in Uherský Brod, to the resentment with the Považské strojírny was again looking for a production program. Based on the Government Resolution of 1953 on the Development of Consumer Goods Production, the Plants on 9 May in Prague (Jawa) were entrusted with the development of a simple means of transport (motocola) accessible to the widest ranks of people. Považské strojírny was entrusted with its production.
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COMMENTS: This is the Google translation version, so the English can be awkward. I left off the rest of the article, which concerns motorcycles and other non-firearms products. This article obviously skimps the arms production history because it was written for motorcycle enthusiasts. The return to weapons production by Považské strojarne for the Korean War in 1951-1953 would have been ammunition and production of vz52 rifles under arsenal code "aym". The vz52 rifles continued to be made by ČZ in Uherský Brod under code "she".
NOTE that ZB factory 2 was broken off by the government in 1946 and made into a separate company named Považské strojárne np, Považská Bystrica .