Bicycle and metal works L. Bauer & Co.

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frame detail
Bauer bicycle, 1961–68
Bauer motorcycle in the cylinder house
Bauer motorcycle
Bauer bicycle 1961-68, emblem (2017-08-02) .JPG

The bicycle and metal works L. Bauer & Co. in Klein-Auheim were a vehicle manufacturer that produced bicycles from 1922 and motorized vehicles such as the Bauer Saxonette or the Bauer B 100 motorcycle from 1936 .

Company history

The company was founded in Frankfurt-Fechenheim in 1911 as a metal goods manufacturer. When the company moved to Klein-Auheim in 1914, the product range was geared to bicycles and the associated accessories, especially bicycle dynamos and lamps, and from 1936 to motorbikes with Sachs and from 1948 with Ilo motors. In 1936 the Bauer B 100 came on the market, a small motorcycle with a 98 cm³ Sachs engine, 2.25 hp, two-speed gearbox and kick starter. During the Second World War , Bauer, like many other companies, was an armaments manufacturer and made cases for hand grenades and bazookashere. Immediately after the war, the production of cooking pots and other household goods began again, as well as bicycles, which were of interest to the US Army stationed in Hanau and which were exported to the USA in large numbers. Almost 1,000 bicycles were produced every day as early as 1947. In 1949 Bauer ventured into the "field of motorcycle production" with the assembly of two-wheeled models over 98 cm³ displacement, which were equipped with Sachs and Ilo engines of 123, 147 and 174 cm³ displacement. In 1952 a motorcycle with a self-developed single-cylinder four-stroke engine, 248 cm³ displacement and OHV valve control , which did not go into series production, became known. The further development of this construction exceeded the financial possibilities of Bauer and led to the end of motorcycle production in 1953.

In 1968 the Bauer-Fahrradwerke filed for bankruptcy and were bought by Rowenta , who took over about a third of the workforce and manufactured metal goods in the production facilities until 1993.

Sponsorship

Bauer-Fahrradwerke acted as a sponsor of its own racing team until the 1950s and was able to achieve success with the riders they supported. For example, Heinz Müller and Ludwig Hörmann succeeded in taking first and third place on Bauer racing bikes at the UCI Road World Championships in 1952 .

literature

  • Erwin Tragatsch : Motorcycles - Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia 1894–1971. 2nd Edition. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1971, ISBN 3-87943-213-9 .
  • Johann Kleine Vennekate: Small machines really big. Motorcycles Saxonette mopeds. 1930-1955 . Schrader publishing house. 1st edition 1996. ISBN 3-613-87150-5 .

Web links

Commons : Fahrrad- und Metallwerke L. Bauer & Co.  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ motor-lit: Bauer Saxonette brochure approx. 1939. In: motor-lit. Retrieved March 24, 2016 .
  2. ^ Sven Becker: Prehistory: The Saxonette 1937 to 1940. In: Sven Becker. Retrieved March 24, 2016 .
  3. ↑ Cars of the Wehrmacht: Saxonette. In: Wehrmacht vehicles. Retrieved March 24, 2016 .
  4. ↑ Beform Versteigerungen: Auction lot number 350. In: Beform Versteigerungen. Retrieved August 14, 2017 .
  5. ↑ Johann Kleine Vennekate, p. 20.
  6. ↑ Johann Kleine Vennekate, p. 21.
  7. ↑ a b Heimatpost Hanau . Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  8. ↑ Erwin Tragatsch, p. 46.
  9. ↑ Erwin Tragatsch, p. 47.
  10. ↑ All motorcycle models from Bauer
  11. ^ A b Holger Hackendahl: Tricks in the canteen. In: op-online.de. July 21, 2011, accessed March 24, 2016 .
  12. ↑ Velo Viles: Bauer Weltmeister Classic racing bike 54.5 cm. In: Velo Viles. Retrieved March 24, 2016 .