Gazelle (bicycle)
Encyclopedia
Royal Dutch Gazelle is the largest and most famous bicycle
manufacturer in the Netherlands. Gazelle employs 550 workers at its factory in Dieren
, The Netherlands, producing 300,000 bicycles a year. Total production has passed 13 million.
The company was founded 1892 by Willem Kölling and Rudolf Arentsen. Initially they sold bicycles imported from England. They started their own production using the Gazelle name in 1902. After changing hands several times, Gazelle is now owned by Glide Buy Out Fund, a Dutch venture capital
fund.
During the period from the 1920s to the 1940s, Gazelle had success exporting bicycles to the East Indies
. Many Gazelle bicycles survive throughout Indonesia
even today and are a highly sought after Dutch collectors item. During this period, Gazelle was to use the Piet Pelle cartoon character throughout many advertising campaigns. This video from 1925 shows the Gazelle factory and production techniques.
Developments include a collapsible delivery bicycle in 1930 and a tandem
bicycle introduced in 1935. An electric bicycle was produced in 1937 together with Philips
. In 1954 Gazelle became a public company and built its millionth bicycle. In 1959, Gazelle patented the first 3-Speed grip shift gear system.
In the mid 1960s Gazelle built a "Special Racing Division" workshop at their factory in Dieren
. In this workshop race frames were handbuilt by skilled craftsmen. At the height of their commercial success (around 1980-85) about 35 people were employed. Gazelle had success with the steel framed "Champion Mondial" bicycles and sponsored the now infamous TVM racing team. The team folded in 2000 because of a doping scandal.
Gazelle was the first Dutch bicycle manufacturer to introduce the "Kwikstep" folding bicycle
in 1964. The front-hub drum brake was developed in 1968 and is still in production today.
The centenary in 1992 coincided with the eighth millionth bicycle produced. Princess Margriet
classified the company “Royal” Gazelle in honor of the anniversary. From then on one million bicycles were produced every three to four years.
In 2010, Gazelle was voted the most trusted bicycle brand in the Readers Digest annual brand survey in Europe.
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
manufacturer in the Netherlands. Gazelle employs 550 workers at its factory in Dieren
Dieren
Dieren is a town in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Rheden, between Zutphen and Arnhem.Dieren was a separate municipality until 1818, when it became a part of Rheden....
, The Netherlands, producing 300,000 bicycles a year. Total production has passed 13 million.
History
Venture capital
Venture capital is financial capital provided to early-stage, high-potential, high risk, growth startup companies. The venture capital fund makes money by owning equity in the companies it invests in, which usually have a novel technology or business model in high technology industries, such as...
fund.
During the period from the 1920s to the 1940s, Gazelle had success exporting bicycles to the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
. Many Gazelle bicycles survive throughout Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
even today and are a highly sought after Dutch collectors item. During this period, Gazelle was to use the Piet Pelle cartoon character throughout many advertising campaigns. This video from 1925 shows the Gazelle factory and production techniques.
Developments include a collapsible delivery bicycle in 1930 and a tandem
Tandem
Tandem is an arrangement where a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction....
bicycle introduced in 1935. An electric bicycle was produced in 1937 together with Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
. In 1954 Gazelle became a public company and built its millionth bicycle. In 1959, Gazelle patented the first 3-Speed grip shift gear system.
In the mid 1960s Gazelle built a "Special Racing Division" workshop at their factory in Dieren
Dieren
Dieren is a town in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Rheden, between Zutphen and Arnhem.Dieren was a separate municipality until 1818, when it became a part of Rheden....
. In this workshop race frames were handbuilt by skilled craftsmen. At the height of their commercial success (around 1980-85) about 35 people were employed. Gazelle had success with the steel framed "Champion Mondial" bicycles and sponsored the now infamous TVM racing team. The team folded in 2000 because of a doping scandal.
Gazelle was the first Dutch bicycle manufacturer to introduce the "Kwikstep" folding bicycle
Folding bicycle
A folding bicycle is a bicycle designed to fold into a compact form, facilitating transport and storage. When folded, the bikes can be more easily carried into buildings and workplaces or onto public transportation or more easily stored in compact living quarters or aboard a car, boat or plane...
in 1964. The front-hub drum brake was developed in 1968 and is still in production today.
The centenary in 1992 coincided with the eighth millionth bicycle produced. Princess Margriet
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands
Princess Margriet Francisca of the Netherlands is the third daughter of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands...
classified the company “Royal” Gazelle in honor of the anniversary. From then on one million bicycles were produced every three to four years.
Today
In 2009, Gazelle won the Dutch Bike of the Year with the Chamonix Innergy electric bike. This was the first time in the competitions history that an electric bike had won the prestigious award.In 2010, Gazelle was voted the most trusted bicycle brand in the Readers Digest annual brand survey in Europe.