- Joined
- Jan 20, 2014
- Messages
- 400
- Reaction score
- 897
- Points
- 93
- Location
- Kamp-Lintfort/Germany
- Website
- www.tomvandutch.de
The company was founded in 1888 and started producing looms. The production of bicycles started just one year later. They then began producing motorcycles and single-cylinder, four-stroke gasoline engines. This was followed by three-wheelers and four-cylinder, four-stroke gasoline engines.
Cars were also built for 15 years. However, they were unable to assert themselves against the strong competition.
The breakthrough in the vehicle sector came with a truck for the Reichspost that had a payload of 1 t. Over the years, the payload of the trucks increased to 2.5 t. Until war production started and production was reduced to a truck with a 1.5 t payload.
After the war, the company was expropriated and became a VEB. The production of stationary engines began before series production of trucks resumed in 1950. In 1957 the company and the vehicles were renamed because the old owners had successfully sued against the names. The plant was constantly expanded and there were also branch offices.
Smaller engines were produced for forklifts and stationary applications. The 6 and 8 cylinders never got out of development status because production was politically undesirable. At its peak, the plant produced 7,000 trucks a year, the majority of which were exported.
Unfortunately, the quality continued to decline as the machines became hopelessly outdated.
After reunification, thousands lost their jobs. The company tried to keep the model running with a new look and a diesel engine from Deutz. However, this attempt failed and the manufacturer had to stop production in 1991.
Between 1950 and 1991 around 250,000 vehicles were built.
The factory premises are now just a ruin and are falling more and more into disrepair.
Cars were also built for 15 years. However, they were unable to assert themselves against the strong competition.
The breakthrough in the vehicle sector came with a truck for the Reichspost that had a payload of 1 t. Over the years, the payload of the trucks increased to 2.5 t. Until war production started and production was reduced to a truck with a 1.5 t payload.
After the war, the company was expropriated and became a VEB. The production of stationary engines began before series production of trucks resumed in 1950. In 1957 the company and the vehicles were renamed because the old owners had successfully sued against the names. The plant was constantly expanded and there were also branch offices.
Smaller engines were produced for forklifts and stationary applications. The 6 and 8 cylinders never got out of development status because production was politically undesirable. At its peak, the plant produced 7,000 trucks a year, the majority of which were exported.
Unfortunately, the quality continued to decline as the machines became hopelessly outdated.
After reunification, thousands lost their jobs. The company tried to keep the model running with a new look and a diesel engine from Deutz. However, this attempt failed and the manufacturer had to stop production in 1991.
Between 1950 and 1991 around 250,000 vehicles were built.
The factory premises are now just a ruin and are falling more and more into disrepair.
