In the early days of motorcycle manufacturing, there were some companies that shared the same name--Excelsior being a good example. The Excelsior name was used by both an American company and an English company. Few people know that another famous name used by two companies was that of Triumph.
However, whereas the Excelsior companies were separate entities, the two companies sharing the Triumph name were initially joined; both being started by German engineer Siegfried Bettmann.
The first and best known manufacturing plant for Triumph products (initially bicycles) was based in Coventry England. The second was in Germany--Deutsche Triumph.
Deutsche Triumph began bicycle production in 1897 under the name German triumph-bike-Werke AG. Motorcycle production at the company began in 1903; however, the German motorcycle market was weak, so by 1907 the company began to limit its production of motorized two wheelers and concentrate on bicycle production.
Motorcycle and Typewriter Production
In 1909 the company ventured into the then relatively new market of type writers when they took over the Nuremberg company, and began to produce the Norica type writer, changing its name to Triumph Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Nuremberg.
In 1911 the German company was renamed to the now more familiar name of Triumph-Werke Nürnberg AG Nürnberg, or TWN.
By 1914 the two companies found themselves on opposite sides in the First World War. And, whereas the English Triumph company produced some 30,000 machines for the allied forces during that period, the German company didn't resume motorcycle manufacturing until after the war when they launched the Knirps.
The Knirps was a 2-stroke single of 276-cc producing 3 HP; the bike went on sale in 1919. This bike was one of the first 2-strokes offered to the German market. The new machine was initially received with some skepticism about its performance and reliability. However, the machine proved to have good performance, and by 1923, a total of 4300 units had been sold.
OHV Engines
The two companies shared common components for some of their range; in particular the engines and transmissions such as the ohv 499-cc 4-stroke single used in the German company's model 'S'. Although these engines only produced 3.5 HP, they were quite advanced for their day, having four overhead valves and a three speed gearbox. The makers claimed a top speed of 80 mph. The 'S' was manufactured from 1924 to 1926.
Sharing a similar specification to the 'S', the 'T' for touring model, was produced from 1924 to 1927. The 'T' was also available with two sidecar options, the sport and the limousine which had a fully enclosed sidecar body.
In 1928 a change in the German taxation classes for motorcycles made 200-cc machines highly desirable; reducing the Knirps' engine capacity to 200-cc gave the German company a large market share. Two models were available, the K6 touring bike and the K7 sports version. A 350-cc version was also available using Sachs or the Swiss MAG engines.
Separate Companies
Having survived being on different sides during World War One, the two Triumph companies ultimately went their separate ways in 1929. However, after a court case in England, the Triumph name became exclusive to the British company.
The German company was renamed firstly 'Orial' then TWN (Triumph Werke Nurnberg) after a French company complained about the use of Orial (a name they had already registered). The TWN name first appeared on their motorcycles in 1931.
Production during the Second World War centered around TWN BD250 2-stroke split singles which were purchased in large numbers by the German army.
After the Second World War, the company offered various 2-strokes for the next nine years with engines ranging from 125-cc to 350-cc.
In 1956 the company joined with Hercules and Eagle (Frankfurt) but motorcycle production was discontinued after the company was taken over by Grundig in 1957 in favor of type writers.
However, whereas the Excelsior companies were separate entities, the two companies sharing the Triumph name were initially joined; both being started by German engineer Siegfried Bettmann.
The first and best known manufacturing plant for Triumph products (initially bicycles) was based in Coventry England. The second was in Germany--Deutsche Triumph.
Deutsche Triumph began bicycle production in 1897 under the name German triumph-bike-Werke AG. Motorcycle production at the company began in 1903; however, the German motorcycle market was weak, so by 1907 the company began to limit its production of motorized two wheelers and concentrate on bicycle production.
Motorcycle and Typewriter Production
In 1909 the company ventured into the then relatively new market of type writers when they took over the Nuremberg company, and began to produce the Norica type writer, changing its name to Triumph Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Nuremberg.
In 1911 the German company was renamed to the now more familiar name of Triumph-Werke Nürnberg AG Nürnberg, or TWN.
By 1914 the two companies found themselves on opposite sides in the First World War. And, whereas the English Triumph company produced some 30,000 machines for the allied forces during that period, the German company didn't resume motorcycle manufacturing until after the war when they launched the Knirps.
The Knirps was a 2-stroke single of 276-cc producing 3 HP; the bike went on sale in 1919. This bike was one of the first 2-strokes offered to the German market. The new machine was initially received with some skepticism about its performance and reliability. However, the machine proved to have good performance, and by 1923, a total of 4300 units had been sold.
OHV Engines
The two companies shared common components for some of their range; in particular the engines and transmissions such as the ohv 499-cc 4-stroke single used in the German company's model 'S'. Although these engines only produced 3.5 HP, they were quite advanced for their day, having four overhead valves and a three speed gearbox. The makers claimed a top speed of 80 mph. The 'S' was manufactured from 1924 to 1926.
Sharing a similar specification to the 'S', the 'T' for touring model, was produced from 1924 to 1927. The 'T' was also available with two sidecar options, the sport and the limousine which had a fully enclosed sidecar body.
In 1928 a change in the German taxation classes for motorcycles made 200-cc machines highly desirable; reducing the Knirps' engine capacity to 200-cc gave the German company a large market share. Two models were available, the K6 touring bike and the K7 sports version. A 350-cc version was also available using Sachs or the Swiss MAG engines.
Separate Companies
Having survived being on different sides during World War One, the two Triumph companies ultimately went their separate ways in 1929. However, after a court case in England, the Triumph name became exclusive to the British company.
The German company was renamed firstly 'Orial' then TWN (Triumph Werke Nurnberg) after a French company complained about the use of Orial (a name they had already registered). The TWN name first appeared on their motorcycles in 1931.
Production during the Second World War centered around TWN BD250 2-stroke split singles which were purchased in large numbers by the German army.
After the Second World War, the company offered various 2-strokes for the next nine years with engines ranging from 125-cc to 350-cc.
In 1956 the company joined with Hercules and Eagle (Frankfurt) but motorcycle production was discontinued after the company was taken over by Grundig in 1957 in favor of type writers.
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