Winklhofer & Jaenicke 'hochrad'

OK- these pictures are not the best. But they are all I have got. This Winklhofer & Jaenicke from Chemnitz in Germany is one of the earliest survivors of this maker, if not the oldest.


Winklhofer & Jaenicke were producers of the Wanderer bicycles, motor cycles and cars. This later became part of Auto Union and Audi.

But not yet in the days when this bicycle was made. In fact it is very British. Winklhofer & Jaenicke started in 1885 with imported Rudge bicycles. It took them one or two years to start up their own production. And when I look closely: in (nearly) all details this bicycle resembles a Rudge light roadster. I do not know if they bought frame and bearings in the UK and stamped their own name in it, or they made all the parts themselves with a Rudge license.


I took the picture from ebay, where this bicycle was sold in 2014. Seller states it has serial number 121, a 54 inch front wheel and a hollow front rim. He thinks it was built in 1885- which may be correct. Of course it could also be 1886 or 87.