History
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. Gazelle is now owned by Pon, a Dutch company that also owns Cervélo.
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.
Read more about this topic: Gazelle (bicycle)
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