W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters

ALTER A.l Germany

   Conceptually adhering closely to the Nie 11 Bebe if not an outright copy of the French design, the A.l single-seat fighter, designed by Kallweit and Ketterer and built by the Ludwig Alter-Werke of Darmstadt, was first flown in February 1917 by Georg Sell. A single-bay sesquiplane with I-type interplane struts, the A.l was of wooden construction with fabric and plywood covering. Armament consisted of two synchronised 7,92-mm LMG 08/15 machine guns and power was provided by a 110 hp Goebel Goe II seven-cylinder rotary engine. The A.l was demonstrated to the Idflieg (Inspektion der Fliegertruppe), but the type was rejected, performance being considered inadequate and the structure being viewed as insufficiently robust, further development being discontinued.

Max speed, 110 mph (177km/h).
Time to 9,840 ft (3000m), 12.8min.
Loaded weight, 1,124 lb (510 kg).

J.Herris German Aircraft of Minor Manufacturers in WW1. Vol I (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 49)

Alter

   The firm had been established in 1871 in Darmstadt as a general trading company. After the death of Ludwig Alter, the founder, in 1915, the firm was remodeled as an aircraft factory. The firm had been engaged in the production of furniture and domestic goods pre-war. The factory specifically repaired Albatros, D.F.W, and Aviatik machines. The company also supplied military vehicle wheels, ammunition boxes, and all types of boxes for military purposes as well as hangars. It is assumed that these would have been pre-fabricated wooden hangars. With the commencement of aeronautical activities, the staff remained at about 300 workers with engineers Kallweit and Ketterer in charge, with Herr Georg Seel as the firm's test pilot.
   In October 1916 the firm received an order for a copy of the Nieuport fighter.
   The overhaul and repair of aircraft was the firm's main activity till the end of hostilities. The firm's experience with wood working was helpful, but it experienced great difficulty in the early days due to the lack of skilled workers, especially metal workers. Later it was in a position to respond to the demands that the military placed on it.

M.Dusing German Aviation Industry in WWI. Volume 2 (A Centennial Perspective on Great War Airplanes 85)

Mobelfabrik Ludwig Alter, Section Aircraft Construction, Darmstadt

Foundation:

  The upholsterer and decorator Johann Justus Ludwig Alter (1847 - 1908) initially founded a small business for the sale of furniture in 1871. After the founder's death, his children Frieda and Heinrich Alter and his son-in-law Emil Glockler took over the business. From 1915 to 1918, the Alter furniture factory also manufactured war vehicles and other army equipment of all kinds. In addition, the company specialised in the inspection and repair of military aircraft from 1915 onwards.


Aircraft development:

  With their own resources, i.e. without the help of more experienced aircraft manufacturers, Alter developed a single-seater fighter "A.I" with a fully enclosed 110 hp Goebel Goe.II engine. The biplane, a copy of Nieuport, was flown in February 1917 by the company pilot Georg Sell, but was not accepted by the Inspectorate of Air Force due to the underpowered Goebel engine.