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Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2020 10:25 pm
by Yorick
Hands up all who thought it was started by a Brit ?
Bettmann was born in Nuremberg in 1863 but emigrated to Coventry. With fellow German Mauritz Schulte, he started manufacturing Triumph-branded bicycles there in 1889 and then motorcycles from 1902 onwards. He bought Elm Bank in 1905 and lived in it until his death aged 88 in 1951. Bettmann, who had become a British citizen prior to the First World War, sold the Triumph motorcycle business to Ariel supremo Jack Sangster in 1936.
So there
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:26 am
by Mr. Dazzle
Honestly....I wouldn't have been surprised if they started out making bacon slicers/socks/pianos /telephones/ whatever. Loads of these companies did before getting into vehicles. Ditto with ownership.
Of course, the modern Triumph is only a bit british too
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:13 am
by David
Velocette were started ( as Veloce ltd) by the Guttemans, later anglicised to Goodman, also german.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:41 am
by demographic
Mr. Dazzle wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:26 am
Honestly....I wouldn't have been surprised if they started out making bacon slicers/socks/pianos /telephones/ whatever. Loads of these companies did before getting into vehicles. Ditto with ownership.
Of course, the modern Triumph is only a bit british too
Pretty much that^ although I'd add bicycles into the mix as well.
Same with many car manufacturers making planes during the second world war.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:59 am
by JackyJoll
Yorick wrote: Fri Oct 23, 2020 10:25 pm
Hands up all who thought it was started by a Brit ?
Bettmann was born in Nuremberg in 1863 but emigrated to Coventry. With fellow German Mauritz Schulte, he started manufacturing Triumph-branded bicycles there in 1889 and then motorcycles from 1902 onwards. He bought Elm Bank in 1905 and lived in it until his death aged 88 in 1951. Bettmann, who had become a British citizen prior to the First World War, sold the Triumph motorcycle business to Ariel supremo Jack Sangster in 1936.
So there
You just said it was owned by a British citizen, from before the First World War.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 9:01 am
by JackyJoll
David wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:13 am
Velocette were started ( as Veloce ltd) by the Guttemans, later anglicised to Goodman, also german.
Not only that- Velocette sounds like a French word!
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 2:24 pm
by Nidge
I think it’s fairly well known among Triumph enthusiasts. Certainly when it came up in the TOMCC quiz at a Christmas it was answered correctly by most.
I’ve just realised how tragic that all sounds
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 3:40 pm
by JackyJoll
Nidge wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 2:24 pm
I think it’s fairly well known among Triumph enthusiasts.
Generally, people either know who started Triumph, or they neither know nor care.
It’s not difficult for someone who is interested, to find out.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 6:53 pm
by The Spin Doctor
JackyJoll wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 3:40 pm
Nidge wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 2:24 pm
I think it’s fairly well known among Triumph enthusiasts.
Generally, people either know who started Triumph, or they neither know nor care.
It’s not difficult for someone who is interested, to find out.
But sometimes it's nice to discover a factoid without having to dig it up.
I didn't know.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:35 pm
by Skub
1888 wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:11 pm
Was it Kawasaki who started life making tractors/Farm vehicles? Think Suzuki started out making Looms. Not the wiring type
Nope. Kawasaki's origins were in ships.
Maybe it was Harley?
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:41 pm
by cheb
Guzzi made agricultural vehicles, including a 3x3 IIRC.
I'll see if I can find a photo.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:43 pm
by cheb
He's happy, but then who wouldn't be in that situation.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:44 pm
by Nobby
Would you believe that Scott motorcycles were not Scottish.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:44 pm
by cheb
Lamborghini started as tractor makers, as possibly did David Brown/Aston Martin.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:53 pm
by JackyJoll
Nobby wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:44 pm
Would you believe that Scott motorcycles were not Scottish.
Nor were Black Douglases.
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:54 pm
by JackyJoll
cheb wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:44 pm
Lamborghini started as tractor makers, as possibly did David Brown/Aston Martin.
I’m deaf now because of bloody Brown and his tractors!
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:10 pm
by Yorick
Nobby wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:44 pm
Would you believe that Scott motorcycles were not Scottish.
Made in Bradford
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2020 8:40 am
by David
Skub wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:35 pm
1888 wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:11 pm
Was it Kawasaki who started life making tractors/Farm vehicles? Think Suzuki started out making Looms. Not the wiring type
Nope. Kawasaki's origins were in ships.
Maybe it was Harley?
Surely Harley still do?
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2020 8:41 am
by David
JackyJoll wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:53 pm
Nobby wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:44 pm
Would you believe that Scott motorcycles were not Scottish.
Nor were Black Douglases.
They were made in Downend Brizzle....
Re: Triumph Was Not British Owned.
Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2020 8:52 am
by Mr. Dazzle
David wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2020 8:40 am
Skub wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:35 pm
1888 wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:11 pm
Was it Kawasaki who started life making tractors/Farm vehicles? Think Suzuki started out making Looms. Not the wiring type
Nope. Kawasaki's origins were in ships.
Maybe it was Harley?
Surely Harley still do?
Kawasaki still make ships. They make all kinda stuff, Rolls-Royce (jet engines that is) had/have a ZX10R on a plinth in one of their offices, it was given as a gift to commemorate a partnership on jet engine parts.
