Vulture works

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Geier-Werke were a vehicle and machine factory in Lengerich (Westphalia) in the Tecklenburger Land .

Geier 1953 150 cm³ 6.5 HP
The Geier moped "Necko", manufactured for Neckermann , built in 1957

The Geier-Werke was founded by Ernst Upmeier. He first worked as a bicycle dealer around 1910 in Lengerich, where he also worked as a locksmith . After the First World War , Upmeier also produced its own bicycle frames. In the mid-1920s, he switched production to bicycle parts. The turnover rose steadily, so that in 1933 a new company building was occupied. This was the beginning of the Geier-Werke Lengerich.

In 1932 he started manufacturing motorcycles , for which he purchased the 74 cm³ engine from Sachs . However, the motorized tricycles , which were intended for transporting goods and people, became more popular. Starting in 1935, these were equipped with a 125 cm³ ILO engine and could carry up to two and a half quintals of payload. The black tricycles were delivered with a flatbed or a closed box. The maximum speed of the vehicles was around 40 km / h. They were equipped with a coaster brake. From 1938, Geier offered reinforced models with DKW engines.

At the same time, Geier-Werke developed a motorcycle with a modern tubular frame , which was initially equipped with a 100 cm³ ILO engine. Later a 125 cc and a 175 cc engine from ILO were installed. While the German motorcycles were mostly painted in dark colors, the motorcycles appeared in a livelier finish. There was a bright gray-green paintwork with decorative lines.

The Second World War led to a change in production, including the manufacture of hand grenades . After the war, a large part of the factory facilities was dismantled by the occupying powers , so that new production could only be resumed under difficult conditions. But as early as 1948, the first 150 motorcycles with a 98 cm³ ILO engine were built. They corresponded nor the last pre-war model, but in 1949 there was an additional charge instead of the spring pressing fork a rubber telescopic fork .

At the first major two-wheeler fair in Frankfurt am Main in 1950, the Geier-Werke showed a new motorbike. The Geier Volksmofa was the cheapest moped ever at the fair . The vehicle was available in a simple gray paint job for only DM 535.

The Geier-Werke produced their own motorcycles until 1953. In addition to its own motorcycles and assembly machines, two-wheelers were also produced for other manufacturers, for example for the Frankfurt torpedo works that were destroyed in the war . Later the Neckermann-Versand also built the “Necko” moped, which was also sold under its own name L300 and was equipped with a Sachs engine.

Losses due to the decline in the two-wheeler market could be absorbed by the boiler construction, which the company operated on the side. But in 1967 Geier began to face increasing economic difficulties that led to bankruptcy in 1968 . The company buildings were demolished as part of the urban renovation. Today nothing reminds of the company that once employed over 600 people.

Web links