TRIUMPH Brand History
Two years later, in 1886, Bettman renamed the company
to Triumph Cycle Company but, thanks financial backing provided by
Dunlop Tyre, he registered it as New Triumph Co. Ltd one year later. Schulte, a Bettmann friend who joined the company, became a member of the management team of Triumph, supporting the evolution of the company in the manufacturing process.
The first Triumph motorcycle came in 1902 when the manufacturers installed a Belgian engine on one of their bikes. In 1903 they sold no less than 500 units of this model. One of the most important milestones in the company's history took place in 1905 when Triumph started producing completely in-house designed motorcycles.
Once the World War I started, most companies stopped the production of motorcycles except Triumph which struggled to roll out new bikes. Moreover, the company supported the Allied war effort and even supplied the alliance with more than 30,000 bikes, most of them being the model H Roadster.
After the war ended, Schulte and Bettman didn't see eye to eye anymore because Schulte wanted to go into automobiles manufacturing but he ended up leaving the company. It turned out that automobile manufacturing was not such a bad idea so the Triumph company bought the Former Hillman car factory in Coventry and even built a car saloon in the city.
