The Exposition „Eska is beautiful. Bicycles from Chebu 1892 – 2006“
The exhibition "Eska is beautiful. Bicycles from Cheb 1892 – 2006" is a joint project of the Cheb Museum, where in late 2022 and early 2023 the first part mapping the production up to 1945 took place, and the gallery of fine arts in Cheb, respectively its branch Retromusea, where the post-war part was presented until bitterly end of bicycle production in Cheb in 2006.
Esky's roots go back to England, where in 1876 the Premier Cycle Company in Coventry began manufacturing high wheel bicycles. New factory was opened in Doos 1891 near Nuremberg and a year later in Cheb, where in December 1892 they assembled the first two bicycles. Director Kastrup left the Cheb Premier in 1911, and a year later another director, Swetlik. They had already agreed in advance that they would build a new factory in Cheb, better and bigger than their current employer. The new factory was still standing in the same year, 1911. It was the most modern of its kind in the Habsburg Monarchy at the time. In 1912, they produced 18,500 bicycles there, and in 1935 they celebrated their half-millionth bicycle Eska.
The post-war history of Eska faithfully copied the life of the entire company, from nationalization, through consolidation, iconic types of folding bikes, the gradual obsolescence of production technology to futile attempts to save it. Outwardly, the successful national enterprise exported bicycles to Western Europe, the USA and Canada, but at the expense of domestic customers, to whom the attractive export types did not reach.
The state invested minimally in Eska and its modernization, the factory languished and technology lagged behind. All she got were numerous reorganizations, formal transfers and proposals for unrealistic plans. At first it was incorporated under ČZ Strakonice, then, on the contrary, it took the Favorit plant under its wing. In a few years, the favorite was set aside to return to Eska again in a few years. The factory in Cheb was somewhat paradoxically managed for years by the Czechoslovak Automobile Works, later by Pragounion. But whichever institution was the superior body, it treated Eska in a paternalistic manner. After 1989, various erudite managers tried to keep the factory running, but they failed to maintain, let alone develop, production. The history of the once famous brand ended in May 2006 with the demolition of the building.
Text from Eska book - Jan Králik 2023
Museum Cheb "Eska is beautiful" Part I from the beginning to 1945
The Cheb Museum is housed in a historic town house called Pachelbel's House on King Jiřího z Poděbrady Square in Cheb. It is one of the oldest regional museums in Bohemia, it was opened on May 15, 1874.
Address: nám. Krále Jiřího z Poděbrad 493, 350 02 Cheb
Contact: https://muzeumcheb.cz
Retromuseum Cheb "Eska is beautiful" Part II 1945 - 2006
Retromuseum was created as part of the Gallery of Fine Arts in Cheb. It was built between 2014 and 2016 in the building of the so-called Schiller House.
Address: Náměstí Krále Jiřího z Poděbrad 17, Cheb
Contact: http://www.retromuseum.cz
Book: Jan Kralik "Eska is beautiful"
The bicycle factory ES-KA was established 1911. Some bicycles from company museum bought town Cheb for town museum. These machines formed small exhibition, but only for short time, because this exposition was latter cancelled.
Contact: http://www.muzeumcheb.cz/Expo/Expon/Kola.html
An exposition with bicycles from ES-KA collection around 1960
49/C ES-KA en exposition c.1960
ES-KA made 1936
The factory ES-KA made bicycles from 1911 to 1996.
Latter adjudication directed that all buildings would be destroyed. Photos by Radim Hettner in 2009.
Catalogue ES-KA 1912
Catalogue ES-KA 1931
Catalogue ES-KA 1936
Catalogue ES-KA 1937
Catalogue ES-KA 1938
