“A. Lippert Joint-Stock Company,” 1900–1940
The bicycle factory, which was part of the joint-stock company “A. Lippert,” was founded in Riga in 1927.
At Aleksandra Ābrama Liperta’s stores—not only in Liepāja, but also in Jelgava and Ventspils—customers could purchase German Pfaff and Stoewer sewing machines, Continental typewriters, as well as Grosser and Walter knitting machines.
Shortly before World War I, A. Lipert’s bicycle workshop at 47 Graudu Street in Liepāja also began assembling bicycles using parts from the German brand Wanderer. They were sold under the brand names Lippert 47 and Libawia.
In 1921, Simons Liperts also opened a bicycle factory at 4 L. Smilšu Street in Riga. Aleksandra’s and Simons’ trading firms operated successfully side by side, so in 1927, it was decided to fully merge the two companies and reorganize them into “A. Lippert Joint-Stock Company,” headquartered at 4 L. Smilšu Street in Riga.
The goal of the new joint-stock company’s management was to establish a more substantial production facility in Riga. Their attention turned to the former buildings of the Russian-Baltic (“Russobalt”) railcar factory, located at the corner of Bruņinieku and Vagonu Streets.
1929. In that year, a favorable purchase agreement was signed with the German company “Brennabor” , whose Latvian representative office had warehouses and Lat-Brennabor bicycle assembly workshops located at 139/143 Bruņinieku Street. Thus, A. Lipert’s company acquired extensive production facilities, while a city store and warehouse were opened at 23/25
By 1938, the company had introduced several technological innovations and was one of the few to replace nickel with a much more durable chrome plating. Production volume reached nearly 130 bicycles per day.
Since 1939, A. Lipert’s bicycle workshop has installed freewheels on its bicycles and has also sold them as spare parts through a chain of stores throughout Latvia.
1940. In the fall of that year, the Soviet authorities nationalized the factory of the joint-stock company “A. Lippert” and ceased bicycle production.
