G. Ērenpreis Bicycle Factory

From the beginning of 20th Century cycling was a very popular and fast-growing sport in Latvia, leading to a strong and highly competitive bicycle manufacturing industry in that country.

[2] In 1921, following the end of the war, Ērenpreis launched his own workshop, where in the first years he repaired and sold abandoned military transport of the Bermont army.

[2] In 1926, Gustavs Ērenpreis and his business partners established a joint-stock company called Omega, but this entity was ultimately abandoned that same year.

The new firm continued in its previous quarters until, in 1931, construction began on a new, modern bicycle factory located on Brīvības Street, and designed by architect Aleksandrs Klinklāvs.

[2] In 1938, G. Ērenpreis factory opened the most modern nickel and chrome plating department in Latvia, with automatic work tables and special machines for producing freewheel hubs and other mechanic bicycle parts.

The Ērenpreis company was nationalized by the USSR and re-christened the Red Star Riga Bicycle Factory (Rīgas Velosipēdu rūpnīca (RVR) "Sarkanā Zvaigzne").