Elsterwerdaer Fahrradfabrik

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Elsterwerdaer Fahrradfabrik (ELFA)
legal form
founding October 15, 1894 (as the Springer & Reichenbach bicycle factory )
Seat Elsterwerda , Germany
management
  • Carl Wilhelm Reichenbach
  • Jumper
  • Erich Reichenbach
Number of employees
  • 60 (1900)
  • 200 (1914)
  • 400 (1927)
  • 500 (1944)
Branch Bicycle manufacturer , motorcycle manufacturer

An Elfa brochure from the 1930s

The Elsterwerdaer Fahrradfabrik (ELFA) was a company based in Elsterwerda in southern Brandenburg that specialized in the manufacture of two-wheelers. The product range included bicycles with and without an auxiliary motor, as well as motorcycles. The motors used for this did not come from our own production, but were taken over from third-party manufacturers ( DKW 200 series or kitchen motors).

history

The cut goods dealer Carl Wilhelm Reichenbach took over the representation of Brennabor bicycles in 1890. On October 15, 1894, CW Reichenbach founded the bicycle factory Springer & Reichenbach in Elsterwerda with Lauchhammer's foreman Springer . The factory was a small workshop at Oberlausitzer Bahnhof, where 16 young people initially worked and produced the “Aegir” bicycle brand. After a year, foreman Springer quit, and with the support of his brother-in-law August Mann, Carl Wilhelm Reichenbach became the sole owner. The number of workers grew within three years from 16 to 50, in 1900 there were 60 and in 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, 200. In addition to the bicycle brands “Aegir” and “CWR”, sewing machines and centrifuges were manufactured in the factory.

During the First World War, the company had to be temporarily closed because most of the workforce was drafted and raw materials such as rubber were no longer in stock. Production eventually resumed to make army bicycles.

After the end of the First World War, the local lignite industry helped to an unexpected boom. The founder's son, Erich Reichenbach, took over the business. The workforce grew to 300 employees. On the night of November 13-14, 1924, a devastating fire destroyed a large part of the plant. The new construction of the factory halls meant that the performance could be increased. In 1927, it took two workers to assemble a bicycle; In 1894, 16 workers were needed for this. In 1927 there were 400 workers in the plant.

On June 1, 1928, the decision was made to build motorcycles. On July 15, 1928, the first "Elfa" motorcycle left the factory.

In 1930 and the following years the company was badly hit by the general economic decline. The conversion of production, financial and technical reforms could not counteract this. The workforce fell to 60 men, some of the property fell into stranger hands, and the proud family tradition came to an end.

In 1936, with the help of Consul Ziegler, the work was returned to the Reichenbach family, and CW Reichenbach died a short time later. The plant started manufacturing bicycles and motorcycles as well as special production for political reasons.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, new difficulties arose. Skilled workers were replaced by unskilled workers, despite all of this, the production specifications were met. This was only possible with the help of a newly established education and training system. In 1944 the following was 500 employees.

During the time of National Socialism, production was switched to armaments. On April 27, 1945, the plant was completely destroyed in a bomb attack. Reconstruction began as early as 1945, and from 1953 the company specialized in the production of milk production systems. A milestone during this period was the development of the rotary milking parlor and its commissioning in 1969. From 1970, ELFA products were sold under the name IMPULSA .

Current

The successor to ELFA is IMPULSA AG, founded in 1990 by the Treuhandanstalt .

The name ELFA has recently been used again as a bicycle brand by a small Dresden company. The focus is on bicycles with a classic design and modern equipment.

Web links

Commons : Elsterwerdaer Fahrradfabrik  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files