GAZZELE

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

THE SHORT HISTORY

1892 : Willem Kolling, working as a post office agent in the Dutch village of Dieren, resigns and start a bicycle trade by ordering one bike in England. His trade expands prosperously. Kolling starts a cooperation with the hardware and stove retailer Rudolf Arentzen from Dieren.

1902 : Arentzen and Kolling buy new premises at the site of the present factory, and start the production of bicycles. In the same year, the first complete, Gazelle branded bicycle is sold.

1903 : Gazelle introduces its first motorbike, which however, was not mode by Gazelle it self.

1905 : Despite the prosperous trade Arentzen withdraws him self from the company. His place is taken by Hendrik Kolling, a brother of Willem Kolling.

1912 : With a big expansion of their original premises, and with the modern, spesialised machinery, their own production plans can be fully realised. They specialise in the fabrication of complete bicycle. Meanwhile Gazelle's wholesales activity becomes increasingly importent.

1915 : The Kollings and their nephew Jan Breuking rename the campany to "N.V. Gazelle Rijwielfabriek v/h Arentzen en Kolling".

In the next twenty-five years the company grows steadily. The domestic out lite as well as the international demand increase significantly. This is also due to the growing market for Gazelle bikes in Indonesia, at that time a Dutch colony. Besides standard bicycles, several kinds of motorised bicycle, delivery bicycles and carrier tricycles were produced for various sectors of industry.

1930 of 1931 : Gazelle introduces the cross frame models 9X and 8V.

Gazelle cross frame

1931 : As a value variety the brand Invicta appears in the Gazelle catalogue. Meanwhile the brand Gelria is introduced, too.

1935 : Gazelle introduces the first tandem, which is extremely popular in the years before the second world war. In the year of its introduction, 600 tandems are sold instantly.

1937 : An electric bicycle powered by a 12 V accumulator and designed by Philips, is taken in production with five well-known  Dutch bicycle makers. Amongst them, Gazelle is the most important one and they produce 117 of these bicycles. However, they never become very popular.

Like for many other Dutch companies, the war is difficult period for Gazelle. Most of the plant equipment is being dismounted by the German occupying forces and transported to Germany. The remaining machinery is blown-up just before the arrival of the Allies. Furthermore, the factory of Willem Kolling suffers severe damage from the war fighting.

In Agustus 1946 the first post-war Gazelle bicycle are available, and 1950 the first Gazelle with clip-on motor. The production of carrier bicycles and tricycles is being contiued.

1954 : The former private company Gazelle is turned into an incorporation. In the same year, Gazelle builds the 1,000,000 bicycle.

1963 : In early 1963, Gazelle mergers with Batavus from Heerenveen. This cooperation could not fulfill the  untherlying axpectations and was broken-up after two years.

1964 : Gazelle is the first Dutch bicycle manufacturer to introduce a folding bike named the "Kwikstep". In contrary to virtually any other common folding bike construction, the Kwikstep is folded around a horizontal axis under the bottom bracket instead of a vertical axis.

1966 : Gazelle reintroduces a tandem model, this time in a modern, less heavy version. In the same year the 2,000,000 Gazelle bicycle is built.

1968 : Gazelle takes over the Juncker, Simplex and Locomotief brands as well as the well-known moped brand Berini.

In addition to the Gazelle branded drum-brake front hub, which is still in production today, Gazelle also builds a three-speed rear hub without and (in most cases) with drum brake in the sixties. After having built some 45.000 - 50.000 units, the production is ceased by the end of the sixties because of the high costs.

.1971 : Gazelle is taken-over by Tube Investment (TI). The name of the firm is now "Gazelle Rijwielfabriek B.V.", a private limited company.

1987 : TI sells its bicycle division to Derby Cycles Corp. This multinational corporation with headquarters in New York nowadays alaso owns bicycle manufacturer Raleigh, cycle hub producer Sturmey-Archer as well as the well-known German bicycle brands Kalkhoff, Rixe, Winara and Staiger.


1992 : Gazelle celebrates the 100 years anniversary. In the same year, the cumulative total production reaches 8 million units.

1999 : In april, Gazelle reaches a new milestone : the 10 millionth bicycle leaves the factory. The Gazelle works now employ 550 people and produce over 300.000 bicycles a year. Gazelle is one of the few bicycle manufacturers of this size which still build most of the frames them selves. 20 % of the total production is exported to Belgium and the neighbouring regions of Germany.

2011 : Derby Cycles Corporation sells Gazelle to the Ducth investment funds "Gilde Buy Out Fund". Gazelle does very well, but Derby is in big financial trobles. The annual production is about 380.000 units, whila Gazelle's market share amounts to some thirty percent.

Today, Gazelle is still figurehead of the Dutch bicycle industry. Gazelle bicycles have been built in large numbers and are known to be very sound and comfortable - the Mercedes Benz of the Dutch bicycle brands.