History of the Classic Bike 'Gazelle'

I haven't had time to ask my father and grandfather about when this great bicycle made in the Netherlands arrived in Jogja, suddenly he died. However, if you look at the museums of the struggle for independence (in 1945's) there are many classic onthel bicycles. Yes, just for fun, open it in a google window, write down gazelle, ee, an online shop that sells this bike appears, instead of writing about the history of the Gazelle bike, then I write Gazelle bike and several pages appear, several English-language websites/websites that show an official address for the Gazelle bicycle manufacturer which is still producing it with the latest models and technology, of course.

Before going further into the history of Gazelle bicycles, if someone asks why did I choose the Gazelle brand? Yes, because as far as I know, this Gazelle bike is the most familiar, most popular, most famous classic bicycle (or the layman calls it an ancient bicycle, Javanese bicycle, camel bicycle) {you can say the number one classic bicycle}, which is also if you like buying and selling business. bicycles, Gazelle classic bikes have the highest selling value.

Not without reason Gazelle bikes have become popular and have the highest selling value (maybe because of their historical value) because;

1. Gazelle bicycles for both men and women are bicycles that are very comfortable to ride, like a pedal that can go longer and longer than expected.

2. The material is so strong, which could be a choice of iron that is durable to wear, durable from damage, also resistant to impact.

That's a few reasons why I'm so interested in knowing more about the history of this famous bicycle, which I certainly know myself from searching for information among fellow community members and also searching in cyberspace.

Gazelle(bike)

Royal Dutch Gazelle is the largest and most famous bicycle manufacturer in the Netherlands. Gazelle employs 550 people in a factory in the Dieren region of the Netherlands (Netherlands), making 300,000 bicycles annually. To date, the total number of bicycles that have been made/produced has reached 13 million bicycles.

History

1892-1919

The company was founded in 1892 by Willem Kölling and Rudolf Arentsen. At first they sold bicycles brought them from England. Then they started their own creation in 1902 under the name Gazelle.

1920-1949

During the 1920s and 1940s, Gaelle had succeeded in exporting as far as the East Indies. Many Gazelle bicycles survive throughout Indonesia to this day and are the most sought after bicycles after antique collectors from the Netherlands. During this time, Gazelle used the Piet Pelle cartoon character in many advertising campaigns. This video from 1925 shows a Gazelle factory and manufacturing techniques.

Developments included a folding bicycle in 1930 and a tandem bicycle introduced in 1935. An electric bicycle was made in 1937 in collaboration with Philips.

1950-1979

In 1954 Gazelle became a public company and made its millionth bicycle. 1959 Gazelle patented the first 3-speed gearshift system.

Gazelle was the first Dutch bicycle manufacturer to introduce the “Kwikstep” folding bicycle in 1964. The front axle/hub drum brake was developed in 1968 and is still being made today.

In the mid-1960s Gazelle built a workshop "Special Racing Division" within their factory in Dieren. In this workshop racing frames are made by hand by people who have technical skills. At the peak of their sales success (around 1980-85) there were about 35 employees. Gazelle succeeded with the steel frame "Champion Mondial" bike and sponsored the now named TVM racing team. However, this team went out of business in 2000 due to a doping scandal.

1980-2009

After a century in 1992 which coincided with the production of the eight millionth bicycle, Princess Margriet honored the company “Magnificent” Gazelle on its anniversary. From that time one million bikes were made over the course of three to four years in 2009, the Gazelle won “Dutch Bike of the Year” along with the Chamonix Innergy electric bike. This is the first time in the history of an electric bicycle competition that it has won the prestigious prize.

2010-Now

In 2010, Gazelle was voted the most trusted bicycle brand in a Readers Digest magazine annual brand survey in Europe. In 2011 Gazelle was acquired by Pon Holdings, the co-owner of Cervélo bicycles as well as an importer of Volkswagen in the Netherlands.

Well, that's the world history of the legendary Gazelle bicycle until now, history also records that Indonesia is a user and collector of Gazelle bicycles, hopefully it will be useful.