[CR] EDCO crank origins

(Example: Framebuilders:Dario Pegoretti)

Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 03:11:53 -0800
From: "Norris Lockley" <norris.lockley@yahoo.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] EDCO crank origins


EDCO(E.DUBIED)SA the bike divison of the parent company during the 70s and 80s was sold off to a management buy-out in 1988, following a liquidation o f the parent company. This firm continued production under the same ownersh ip, trading as EDCO Engineering SA until March 2001. By 1996 the two PDGs ie the presidents, a Mr Wirth (no connection with the German wood fastener s industry) and a Mr Niedrig owned almost 90% of the company and the worker s and former workers owned the rest. The company had also expanded into oth er manufacturing such as shitters and blinds, machining of civil and mili tary products, and had established a role making hubs for invalid wheelchai rs etc. They also produced a limited range of spokes and nipples.

In March 2001 the company was forced into bankruptcy and within a couple of days SAPIM, the Belgian spokemaker bought out the cycle parts division of EDCO  and continued to own the company with a view to expanding into the wheel-market.

However their ambitions were never fulfilled and in March 2007 SAPIM sold o ff the cycle accessory divison to a Dutch firm based in Eindhoven called To tal Support Engineering. The EDCO brand remains as a division of this compa ny under the name of EDCOEngineering. Its still retains as a motif in its p ublicity, an emblem - the Swiss flag.

The firm has branched out into carbon wheels and imports and distributes th e Australian-built TESCHNER-Leggera carbon bikes.This latter company has however just been put into the receiver's hands. The Dutch Edco Engineering company currently sponsors  World Champion Maria Vos.

All of hwich is a long way, in terms of time, from the original Dubied comp any..and off-limits for the CR List. Apologies to Dale.

Norris Lockley..Settle UK