Albuch Kotter
Albuch Kotter was a German bicycle brand owned by Albuch Fahrradfabrik GmbH in Böhmenkirch on the Swabian Alb ( Baden-Württemberg ).
Company history
In 1983 Konrad Kotter founded the Albuch bicycle factory in Böhmenkirch . Albuch is the district name for the northeastern part of the Swabian Alb, west of the Brenz Valley , in which Böhmenkirch is also located. Racing bikes in the upper price segment, touring and trekking bikes and mountain bikes were marketed under the brand name “Kotter” .
Before Albuch Kotter produced its own frames, the company sold Italian frames from the manufacturers Romani and Pistrada under the name "Kondor" . The company imported the frames and assembled them in a factory in Schechingen.
In 1982 the company, at that time still owned by Konrad Kotter and mainly producing "Kondor" bikes, had to file for bankruptcy. The entrepreneur Hartmut Fischer took over the company, relocated production from Schechingen to Böhmenkirch and handed the management over to his daughter and son-in-law, Ute and Wolfgang Engler.
Due to phases of consolidation and boom in the industry, the structure of the company changed from an exclusive supplier for specialist dealers to a direct marketer. In the spring of 2001 the break-in came for Albuch Fahrradfabrik GmbH. The increasing competition from cheaper producers and the uncertain further development caused the bicycle factory to stop production and to close down operations.
bikes
Albuch Kotter manufactured lugged steel frames from tubes from Oria-Mannesmann and Columbus Tubi (Aelle et al.). The MTB models "Tirol", "Centaur" and "Dolomit" were based on lugged steel frames. Kotter produced 26 inch racing bikes for triathlon . The company manufactured a wide range of racing bike frames - starting with inexpensive frames, such as the "Pfiff" model, through mid-range frames ("Amateur" and others), to high-quality models from the "Albuch Kotter Racing Team" series.
The bikes were equipped with Shimano, Campagnolo or Suntour components. Weinmann brakes were also partially installed.
Kotter gave a 10 year warranty on frame breakage at the factory . Many models were under-chrome-plated and almost all frames were cavity-sealed . The brand was created by the usual Kotter "K" on the flat fork crown and the upper seat stays of the frame.
The Kondor racing bikes were preferably built with Shimano components. A few bikes also got Campagnolo equipment.
Cycling
Konrad Kotter had a professional racing team until 1982 and 1987: Kotter's Racing Team . In 1982 the team took part in the Giro d'Italia as "Kondor-Kotter" . Later it went up in Albuch Kotter .
Illustrations
Kotter racing bike frame from Columbus Aelle with clear Kotter "K"
Kotter racing bike, model "Pfiff", late 1980s
Kotter racing bike made from Oria tube with "Kotter" engraving
Kotter racing bike built as a speed bike
Albuch Kotter racing bike
Albuch Kotter ladies racing bike from Oria Tubi with a Shimao 600 tricolor equipment
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Individual evidence
- ↑ Stadtanzeiger, Week 40, October 2, 2001
- ↑ Condor 1982 ( Memento from October 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive )