Cologne bicycle pioneer Allright: From world champion to company death

Cologne bicycle pioneer Allright: From world champion to company death

The impressive history of the Allright bicycle brand comes to life in the heart of Cologne. Horst Nordmann, a passionate collector, is currently presenting an exhibition about the traditional brand in the Sports and Olympic Museum. A real highlight of the exhibition is the original Georg Sorge bike, which symbolizes the roots of this Cologne brand and brings back memories of the glory days of its founder, Georg Sorge.

Founded in 1890, Allright quickly developed into one of the best-known bicycle brands on the German market. Georg Sorge wasn't just a successful cyclist; He also set records, including the incredible distance of 250 kilometers from Blankenheim to Boppard in just 11 hours and 51 minutes. At a time when bicycles were unaffordable for many, Sorge even offered his bicycles to the army, creating a special race between cyclists and the cavalry in 1893. Surprisingly, Sorge came second in the race from Vienna to Berlin, which increased demand for his bicycles even though no contract with the army was reached.

From a small business to a large employer

Over time, Sorge's small workshop transformed into a stock corporation and eventually traded as “Köln Lindenthaler Metallwerke AG” (KLM). Through the influence of Adolf Hanau, a Jewish businessman and shareholder, Allright became even more economically successful. Under his leadership, the factory size grew to approximately 20 football fields, and 750 workers produced an impressive 35,000 bicycles annually. In the 1920s, production reached a new level of 100,000 bicycles per year, making Allright one of the largest employers in western Cologne.

But history took a dramatic turn when the Nazis came to power in 1933. Hanau had to hand over his company to Conrad Brusselsbach. While Hanau and his mother died in the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942, the company remained under Brusselsbach, who transformed the company into a model National Socialist company and employed forced laborers. The radical political circumstances have not only changed the workforce, but have also had a major impact on cycling itself.

Cycling in the Third Reich

When the National Socialists took power, a period of restructuring began, which also significantly affected cycling. Cycling associations excluded Jewish athletes and political dissidents and the competitions were brought into line. The “Around Cologne” competition, which was redesigned in 1933, took place with a strong SA presence. Such events were used by the regime for propaganda purposes and the bicycle industry hoped for economic benefits from professional cycling, which was to be developed into a popular sport.

As cycling became more professional in the following years, new racing groups were founded and numerous bike manufacturers, including Allright, became involved in professional sport. Despite the critical political environment, many cyclists adapted and some joined the NSDAP. This was also reflected in the popularity of races and the mainstream reporting of the time.

After the war, the company experienced some legal disputes, mainly caused by the Hanau family, while the company remained under Brusselsbach and Wolf. Eventually production was moved to Hürth-Efferen, but the old motorcycles and bicycles that were once produced under Allright/Cito only serve as fragments of this brand's glorious past.

Now, many years later, Allright remains not only an important part of Cologne's history, but also an example of how cycling has changed over time. It shows us how closely business, sport and politics are often linked. Horst Nordmann's exhibition in the Sports and Olympic Museum makes a valuable contribution to keeping this chapter of Cologne's city history alive.