| Country: | Germany | Primary Focus: | Bicycles |
| Years of Operation: | 1949 - 2015 |
| General Information |
| In the late 70´s and 80´s Mountain bikes and racing frames were also produced - but the racing bikes partly with tubes glued into the lugs. In the beginning, the bikes were always in "brushed aluminum"finish, later also painted. Since Kettler had experience in aluminum processing, but probably underestimated the bike-specific stresses, there were often problems with cracks and tube breaks - overall, the wheels were also considered "wobbly". For equipping racing clubs possibly frames of Italian production (Vetta, Simoncini) were bought and sold under the Kettler label. Racing bike models (examples): Alpha (1978 Shimano Positron/ Mix) Strato (1984; Shimano 600 AX-), Puma-Racing (1986; Shimano 105 Golden Arrow) Alpha Triathlon(1986; Shimano 105)
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| History |
| founded in 1949 by Heinz Kettler in Ense-Parsit as a manufacturer of garden furniture, table tennis tables, toys and children's vehicles ("Kettcar") began to develop bikes from welded aluminum tubes in the 70s. 1977 the model "2600" entered the market, it can be considered the first aluminum large-scale production Bike and was a success.The Bike production was located in Rilchingen-Hanweiler (Saarland). In 2009- the 2600 model was reissued. Due to strokes of fate and problems with succession, the company ran into difficulties and declared insolvency in 2015 - in the same year the bike division went to ZEG (Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft), which to this day sells children's, touring and transport bikes under the "Kettler" brand.
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