HARTMANNSDORF, Germany (BRAIN)—Diamant, a European brand acquired by Trek in December 2002, celebrated its 125th anniversary last month at its German factory, a celebration capped by a visit from Tave Schur.
Schur, 79, was an East German cycling hero in the 1950s and 1960s who is still fondly remembered by former East German residents. His appearance at the factory, the oldest operating bicycle factory in Germany, surprised and pleased company employees. Twenty-five years after ending his career in 1960, Schur was named East Germany’s sports personality of all time. He had won a bronze in the team time trial at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne and a silver medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Trek bought the Villiger-Diamant production facility along with its brands—Villiger, Arrow, Tigra and Diamant—from Villiger Sohne AG of Switzerland, a cigarette maker.
A 125th year anniversary book unveiled at the celebration, detailed the company’s long history. It included a message from John Burke, Trek’s president. Diamant began making bicycles in 1885. During World War II it made small motorcycles for the German army. The city fell into Russian hands as the war ended and became part of East Germany.
