Laurin & Klement - Bicycles and Motorcycles "SLAVIA"
Václav Laurin - born 1865 September 27th, Václav Klement – 1868 October 16th
The company was set up the end of 1895
1895 - The small machinist workshop with two employees was opened one week before Christmas holiday on street Benátská, Mladá Boleslav
1896 - The first season, bicycle production started with five bicycles models (models 0 to 5)
1897 - The second season, the company offered still five models with small improvment
1898 - The third season, the new factory buildings was built with 1100 sq meters, new models under pattern number from 7 to 14, first tandem
1899 - The fourth season, models from 17 to 32, Acaténe models (drive shaft system) and first bicycle with engine
1900 - The fift season, bicycles, transport machines and motorcycles
1906 - The first model of car was offered by company catalogue!
Laurin & Klement printed the first czech book for cyclists and about cycling and bicycles. The second extensive publication from 1898 is our gallery with many original pictures. The book is known under name:
Hand-book for Cyclists
Laurin & Klement chose name "SLAVIA". It sounds incredibly that they offered first bicycle with engine before 1900. It was a solid base for motorcycle production. Production of cars came during five years. The cars "ŠKODA" are famous around the World at the moment and the bicycle fans knows these company like one of big sponsors of Tour de France. We can assert that the SLAVIA name is really very famous and important brand for bicycles, motorcycles and cars production in Czech lands. Only three SLAVIA bicycles are survivors to this time. The four bicycles where we are sure of originality and clear origin.
Ladys´ type "Slavia 5" 1897, serial number 1260
The first Czech Bicycle Museum - Nové Hrady, Czech Republic
Gents´ type „Slavia 9“ 1898, serial number 1618
Privat collection, Liberec, Czech Republic
Gents´ type "Slavia 17" 1899, serial number 3336
Museum ŠKODA, Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic
Gents´ type "Slavia 21" 1898/89, serial number 3381
Biczycle collection
Gents´ type 1899/1900, serial number 4116
Private collection
Noname bicycle with badge SLAVIA
The next model SLAVIA, Auto & Moto museum Prerov nad Labem, Czech Republic
Some next known machines with badge "Slavia". We are sure that these machines weren´t made by company Laurin & Klement, maybe these were repaired in his workshop only or are fakes.
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1896 – Bicycles
Laurin & Klement – Bicycles 1896
Catalogue Laurin & Klement – News for year 1897
Laurin & Klement – News for year 1897
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1897 – Bicycles
Laurin & Klement – Bicycles 1897
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1898 – Bicycles
Laurin & Klement – Bicycles 1898
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1898 – Parts
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1899 – Bicycles
Laurin & Klement – Bicycles 1899
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1899 – The first motorcycle
Laurin & Klement 1899 – The first motorcycle
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1899 – Transport tricycles
1899 Laurin & Klement – Transport tricycles
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1900 – Parts
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1901 – Bicycles and motorcycles
Laurin & Klement 1901 – Bicycles and motorcycles
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1901 – Parts
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1906 – The first car
Laurin & Klement 1906 – The first car
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1909 – Cars
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1910 – Cars
Catalogue Laurin & Klement 1914 – Cars
Laurin & Klement Motorcycles
Very nice book from Jan Králík and Petr Kožíšek „L & K Škoda – The Way to the Top 1895 – 1945“ is important part of book-case for all L & K fans. It is base of our fotogallery with some photograph real machines.
International Race for Motorcycles in France 1904-05
International race in France 1904-05
ŠKODA Muzeum in Mladá Boleslav
The new ŠKODA Muzeum. In 1895, Václav Klement and Václav Laurin founded their business here in Mladá Boleslav. This makes ŠKODA one of the oldest and most traditionrich automobile brands in the world. ŠKODA Muzeum brings the past to life in an authentic place, namely the former production halls, where cars were made as late as in 1928. Immediately adjacent, the company's largest and most modern plant continues this history, churning out new ŠKODAs day after day.
Contact: http://museum.skoda-auto.com/
140 ŠKODA Museum, Mladá Boleslav
We prepare article about Laurin and Klement bicycles for ICHC International Cycling History Conference Baltimore August 6th-10th. It will attached it soon.
website: http://www.ichc-2014-conference.org/