Triumph - History

In 1885, the company began when Siegfried Bettmann emigrated to Coventry, England from Nuremberg, part of German Empire. In 1884, Bettmann founded his own company, the S. Bettmann & Co. Import Export Agency, in London, England. The company originally produced bicycles, which were bought and sold under its own brand name. The company also distributed sewing machines imported from Germany. In 1886, Bettmann sought a more universal name. The company became known as the Triumph Cycle Company. In 1887, the company registered as the New Triumph Co. Ltd., with financial backing from the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company. Bettmann was joined by another Nuremberg native, Moritz Schulte in the same year. In 1888 Bettmann purchased a site in Coventry. The company began producing the first Triumph-branded bicycles in 1889. In 1896 Triumph opened a factory in Nuremberg, Germany for cycle production in Bettman's native city. Triumph decided to extend its production to include motorcycles in 1898. By 1902, the company produced their first motorcycle, a bicycle fitted with a Belgian Minerva engine. In 1903 Triumph motorcycle sales topped 500. During its first few years of producing motorcycles, designs were based on those of other manufacturers. In 1904 Triumph began producing motorcycles based on its own designs. In 1905 Truimph produced its first completely in-house designed motorcycle. By the end of 1905, Triumph had produced more than 250 of that designs. In 1907, Truimph produced more than 1,000 motorcycles.

Just like Harley-Davidson, the outbreak of World War I provided a boost for Triumph as production switched to support the Allied war effort. Triumph produced more than 30,000 motorcycles to help with the Allied war effort. In the 1920s Triumph purchased the former Hillman car factory in Coventry, England and produced a saloon car in 1923 under the Triumph Motor Company. By the mid-1920s Triumph was Britain's leading motorcycle and car maker, with a 500,000 square feet plant capable of producing up to 30,000 motorcycles and cars a year. Triumph motorcycles were particularly popular overseas and income came primarily from exports to other countries. In 1929 The Great Depression hit. Triumph sold off its German subsidiary as a separate, independently owned company, which became part of the Triumph-Adler Company. In 1932, Triumph sold off its bicycle manufacturing section to Raleigh. Triumph struggled financially and Bettmann was forced out of the chairman's spot. He retired completely in 1933. In 1936, the company's 2 components became separate companies. After going bankrupt in 1939, the Triumph Car company was acquired by the Standard Motor Company. The motorcycle operation was acquired in 1936 by Jack Sangster, who also owned the rival Ariel motorcycle company. In 1936 Triumph began exporting motorcycles to the United States. Motorcycles were produced at Coventry until World War II. Coventry in England, was virtually destroyed The Blitz (1940-41). After tooling and machinery was recovered from the site of the devastation, production restarted at a new plant in the West Midlands in England in 1942. Triumph continued producing motorcycles after the 2nd World War. Triumph received a lot of publicity in the United States. Marlon Brando rode a 1950 Thunderbird 6T in the 1953 movie, The Wild One. In 1951 Triumph was sold to rival company BSA. Production and sales grew steadily and by 1965 the plant in the Midlands was producing around 800 units per week, 80% destined for the USA. In 1969 Triumph's production peaked at around 46,800 units a year. By the early 1970s Triumph experienced production delays. In 1972, the BSA Group merged with Norton Villiers and Norton-Villiers-Triumph (NVT) was formed. In 1973 NVT announced that the Meriden plant was going to be closed. This provoked a workers' sit in. As a result production was virtually halted. In 1974, almost no motorcycles were built. In 1975, after negotiation, the plant resumed production of motorcycles with capital provided by a British government grant. The co-operative subsequently bought the rights to the Triumph marque from NVT and production gradually crept up to 350 units per week. Despite further support, the co-operative went into liquidation in 1983. In the same year, John Bloor bought the name and manufacturing rights from the Official Receiver for Triumph. The new company continued the company's record of motorcycle production since 1902, making it the world's longest continuous production motorcycle manufacturer. Today Triumph still produces motorcycles. I'm sure that if you looks around in publications and on the internet that one would find various classifieds adverts for Triumph motorcycles.

Related Links:
Triumph Motorcycles - Official Website