I just learned that BMW, besides manufacturing cars w/the “untimate driving experience” also makes and sells bicycles. And the bicycle line has historically been an important part of BMW’s business, for a period after WWII, bicycles (by the reports I read) nearly their only product other than pots and pans. From pots and pan and bicycles to the ultimate driving machine, BMW is quite a success story.
But was wondering if any other of the current car companies also sell bicycles?
Peugeot has been making bikes since 1882 by the thousands.
And years ago I used to own a Peugeot 10 speed bicycle so I should have remembered.
Many early car companies were making bicycles first. Duryea Brothers in the US, Humber in the UK just to name 2. Pope, Pierce-Arrow, Dodge Bros, Stoddard-Dayton and many, many more.
I can find no evidence of that. Are you sure the articles aren’t about motorcycles?
Anyone with a welder and a pipe bender can make bikes in their garage. No need to also make cars.
Looks like BMW partnered with Italian bike company 3T to make BMW branded bikes.
BMWs first product was a straight 6 aircraft engine… which helped bankrupt the company after WW1. They survived making motorcycles and later cars and aircraft engines again for WW2.
Maybe some day George will hear about that new thing for questions called Google.
Their emblem, the blue and white quadrants of a circle supposedly represents an aircraft’s spinning propellor against a blue sky.
I believe that they’re prohibited from ever making aircraft engines again as one of the conditions of Germany’s WW2 surrender.
BMW lost its Eisenach plant to the East Germans who produced an EMW badged car with a red and white roundell. BMW sued them and won. The company was renamed Wartburg which made the larger car (for party officials) for East Germany. The Trabant being the peoples car.
BMW was also forced to give the British Bristol company plans and rights to their car designs. The Bristol cars sported the twin kidney shaped grills for the first few years.
IDK anything in particular about BMW and bicycles, but it’s not surprising.
The mid-late 19th century to early 20th was interesting in this regard. I recall a long time ago learning that BSA (of motorcycle fame, but they also produced from early 20th century cars) stood for Birmingham Small Arms. So, yeah, it started as a firearms co., and, while they did put out some cars, became famous for motorcycles.
Similarly, the first things that might be called “bicycles” were heavy, clunky things made of wood. They descended from horse drawn wagons. One of (if not THE?) first companies to make lighter weight metal bikes was Coventry Sewing Machine Co.
At the time, a lot of what drove what you tried to make was just where your crafting skills were. No matter what kind of product you started out trying to manufacture and market, if other stuff seemed viable in the market and you could make it - well, then you did.
Heh heh. The first I had heard about a wartburg was reading a book some years ago. Danged if I remember but a professor had gotten the use of one and was fleeing west. Seems to me he cursed the engine, two cycle or two cylinder, used more oil or water than gas. Any port in the storm as they say. You use whatever you’ve got. I think it was blue.
Fiction but if you ever toured the check point Charlie museum in Berlin, there were some amazing escapes to go off topic a little.
I’m not a Springsteen fan but his 1988 East German performance of chimes of freedom was great.
As far as I can tell BMW never depended on bicycles for their business. George, where did you see that?
And Ford made BBQ Briquettes
Yup!
Back in the '70s, when I was shopping for a high-quality 10-speed bike, I found Peugeot’s bikes to be a better value than the fancy Italian bikes. So, I bought one, and was very happy with it.
On the Peugeot warranty registration form, the following question appeared: What factors caused you to choose a Peugeot bicycle?
Because I was in a sarcastic mood at the time, I wrote… I’ve owned a Peugeot pepper grinder for many years, and it has proven to be very reliable, with no need for repairs.
And, before George asks, I can tell him that, besides Peugeot, no other car companies make pepper grinders.
Peugeot’s first product (early 19th Century) was saw blades.
The brand
After that venture proved to be very successful, they branched-out to pepper grinders and bicycles–and later, motorcycles and cars.
I owned one back in the 70’s. Rode it everywhere. I just hated that Cotter Key crank. If I had the money as a poor college student I would have replaced it. But things like food and cloths got in the way.
Off on a different tangent - Lamborghini started as a tractor company and they still do make tractors.
Ford was into a lot of different things which included tractors and airplanes. If you’re ever in Dearborn MI, it’s worth a trip to visit the Ford Museum. Not just about cars but a vast array of technologies.
The younger members of the forum might not know that Ford owned Philco–the maker of radios, TVs, refrigerators, and air conditioners.
Nash/AMC owned Kelvinator, the maker of refrigerators and other home appliances.
Chrysler owned the Airtemp A/C company, and GM owned Frigidaire–which made all manner of appliances.
Yup, back when they actually considered themselves manufacturers of things, not just contractors and parts suppliers.
If you get to Detroit, ford liked to generate his own power too at his estate. He was big on controlling or owning all of the products necessary, from wool for seats to lumber for floor boards, and steel for fenders.
In the Saint Paul plant, h3 located it for the sand for glass making, and the river for power generation and transport. The famous max Conrad operated out of the Winona airport and had a ford tri motor there. Offered my dad a chance to fly it but my mother nixed it. History as they say.
The more modern day equivalent to that is Mickey D’s (sic). They remain the standard model for vertical integration of their supply chain…