Siegfried Bettmann founded Triumph in 1886, according to Grace's Guide. Sources disagree on when its cycle business passed to Raleigh: Grace's Guide says 1932, Retro Raleighs 1953 and Tony Hadland 1954.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1886 (Siegfried Bettmann)
- Ownership
- Disputed: 1932, 1953 or 1954
Sources disagree: Triumph cycle business to Raleigh1932: Triumph sold its bicycle facility to Raleigh; 1936 bicycle production acquired by Coventry Bicycles (Grace's Guide to British Industrial History) or 1953 / 1954 'Triumph and Three Spires' / '1950s' (Retro Raleighs (sheldonbrown.com), BikeBiz, International Cycling History Conference proceedings).
Triumph models
Years show the earliest and latest evidence found so far, not exact production dates.
Club / lightweight
Sources for this brand
Last updated 19 October 2026. Every fact on this page comes from one of these.