A Brief History of the Marque
Allright Fahrradwerke, later Köln-Lindenthaler Metallwerke AG
The firm began as a bicycle shop in Cologne named Edelmann & Comp. in 1889. They built bicycles using components from UK companies Triumph and Allright Coventry, selling machines for 500 to 1000 marks - the equivalent of a year's wages for a member of the working classes. By the late 1800's the prices of American import bicycles had dropped to 80 marks, whilst German Allright machines were still priced around 200. A crisis loomed.
In 1898 the company name was changed from Allright to Köln-Lindenthaler Metallwerke (KLM), and soon began producing motorcycles, in addition to cycles. Paul Henkel took over motorcycle production and moved the factory to Suhl. He became seriously ill in 1931 and took his own life. The company was owned by the Hanau bank of Adolf Hanau who, with his wife, was murdered by the Nazis in a concentration camp.
Between 1902 and 1927, they constructed motorcycles in Cologne initially using engines from FN, Minerva and Kelecom. They sold machines re-badged as Vindec-Special and VS in Britain from 1903 to 1914.
Late in 1907 at the Leipzig Crystal Palace Exhibition they presented a 2 hp and a 3.5 hp single-cylinder motorcycle model along with a 5 hp twin fitted with a Peugeot engine.
In 1909 and 1910 advertisements appeared using the brand name "Allreit".
The firm also built automobiles between 1908 and 1913, the early machines being cyclecars with V-twin engines and wire-spoked wheels.
After WWI they produced machines powered by JAP, Blackburne and Motosacoche engines. In 1922 they acquired Cito and built the 500cc KG (Krieger-Gnadig).
Early in 1923 an Allright lightweight introduced, the Model AI which had a DKW 128cc engine fitted to a Snob chassis. This could could be ridden tax-free. The AI was replaced in 1926 by the 175cc Model B IV powered by a side-valve JAP engine. This was followed in 1928 by a 98cc Sachs-engined machine popularly referred to as the "Hermännchen" (The Little Hermann), named for the preposterously large Hermann Goering who attended a press conference announcing the "people's motorcycle". The term persisted into the 1950s as a reference to 98cc BMA-style motorcycles. [1]
Germans *do* have a sense of humour!
Rudi Albert, an Allright designer, went on to create the famous Mars Stella.
Models include:
1906 Allright KLM 2 3/4 PS
1908 Allright KLM 500 cc. 3 PS Modell
1909 KLM Allright 680cc
1908-1912 VS Model F 672 cc Peugeot V-twin [2]
1908-1912 VS Model G 672 cc Peugeot V-twin
1908-1912 VS Model H 3½ h.p FN single, 80 mm x 98 mm bore/stroke.
1910 KLM 7 PS Model 1000cc.
1923 Allright Model AI 128cc DKW
1924 Allright KLM 250 BJ Sport
1926 Allright KLM Motorrad Typ C 3 BJ.
1926 Model B IV 175cc SV JAP.
1926 Allright Model AI Lightweight DKW
1926 Allright Model CI Touring 250cc SV-JAP
1926 Allright Model C II Sport 250cc SV-JAP
1926 Allright Model D II 350cc SV
1926 Allright Model D III 350cc OHV JAP
1926 Allright Model EI Touring 500cc JAP
1926 Allright Model E II Sport 500cc SV JAP
1926 Allright Model F II 500cc OHV
The brand was revived in 1956 by Friedrich Rolf, son-in-law of Conrad Brüsselbach of Köln-Lindenthal, using the names Cito Frera, Cito Allright Tiger, Tiger, Allright and others. See Brüsselbach.
Notes
1. This may have been introduced in 1931, fitted with a 74cc Sachs.
2. 1908-1912 VS models were sold in Britain, Germany and the United States, and all had a "VS" logo on the tank.
Sources: Tragatsch p72; Menim.com; coelner-zweiraeder.de; Motopedia; et al.
September 18, 2001
To whom it may concern,
my name is Horst Nordamnn. I live in Cologne, Germany where Allright
motorbikes were built.
I own a number of Allright machines since I have been collecting them and researching about the manufacturers history for years. Therefore I have a lot of information (from 1890-1965) which I would like to contribute to your site.
Unfortunately I haven't got an e-mail address just yet and I am not familiar with the ins and outs of the internet. Therefore I would be very grateful if you could call me and let me know how I should provide the information for your site (i.e. pictures or just text etc.)
Also it would be great if you could add the below address as contact under 'Allright' on your site.
If you can't call please sent a mail to my girlfriend (bettinab at khm.de) and let me know how else to proceed.
Thank you very much yours
HORST NORDAMNN
CLEVERSTR. 51
50668 KÖLN
TEL 0049-(0)221-727838
(Some years later, Horst seems to have mastered the interwebs: coelner-zweiraeder.de )
If you have a query or information about Allright motorcycles please contact us
