A Brief History of the Marque
Lohmann-Werke AG, Bielefeld. 1949-1953
Lohmann built 18cc two-stroke diesel auxiliary bicycle engines.
The Lohmann company was founded in 1892 in London by the German-born Karl Lohmann to manufacture bicycles. Just a few years later he created a second company in Bielefeld, Germany, a town which was fast becoming a major centre for bicycle manufacture, and by the early 20th century he was selling all manner of related bicycle components in Germany, England and elsewhere in Europe, in particular Perfecta acetylene lamps which he manufactured.
The London address was 35 Great Eastern Street, but the British assets of the company were forfeited during the Great War. Karl Lohmann died in 1916, and his family redeveloped the German branch of the firm, extending into leather products for which they had built a manufacturing facility producing saddles, luggage and related bicycle components.
In the 1930s, with Germany extending its military, the leatherworks was in full swing producing military uniform fittings, along with motorcycle saddlebags.
The factory suffered extensive damage during the air raids of 1944.
In the late 1940s the firm began developing a two-stroke diesel clip-on bicycle engine, and the Lohmann Type 50 cyclemotor became a very good seller.
Between 1948 and 1955 Hermann Teegan, a designer with Lohmann who may well have developed his ideas whilst working with the Wehrmacht during the war, was issued patents in Germany, France and the United States related to the diesel auxiliary engine. The 18cc engine was briefly used by the British firm Britax, and agencies were established in Switzerland, Italy and Spain. However, with falling sales in the cyclemotor sector, production ceased in the late 1950s.
Notes Postwar address: Lohmann Werke AG, Bielefeld W. Rathenau-Strasse 56
Sources: Life in the Slow Lane by Mark Daniels; et al.
24-Feb-23
wboldriley at gmail
Wir haben einen Fahrradmotor mit der Aufschrift "Lohmann Werke A.G. Typ 50 Hubraum 18 cm3 Modell 39247 Boujahr BEI NR 293" so gut wir es sehen können. Außerdem eine Tankhalterung für den Motor mit der Aufschrift "Markenol Wie Mobiloel BB 1:25 verwenden". Können Sie uns sagen, wann, wo dies gemacht wurde? Haben diese Gegenstände einen Wert oder historischen Wert? Danke schön.
We have a bicycle motor marked "Lohmann Werke A.G. Typ 50 displacement 18 cm3 model 39247 Boujahr AT NR 293" as best we can see. Also a tank bracket for the engine with the inscription "Markenol Wie Mobiloel BB 1:25 use". Can you tell us when and where this was done? Do these items have value or historical value? Thank you very much.
S Henry
