From bread and pastries to worldwide Solex fun. LARGE RETAIL OR SMALL WHOLESALE
From bread and pastries to global Solex fun. LARGE RETAILER OR SMALL WHOLESALER
Interview with Marcel van de Ven, owner of Van de Ven Onderdelen Verkoop en Reparatie
9 June 2016
Text: Cok van de Heuvel
Photos: Wout Meppelink; BROMFIETS
There are no massive signs reading ‘Solex Enterprise Limited’ or anything of the sort on the industrial estate in Sevenum. Sevenum isn’t a metropolis, so the industrial estate is modest too. Yet we certainly didn’t end up in a shed where an ageing hippie with a flower in his hair was about to set the world alight with a homemade new diaphragm. Marcel van de Ven (52) runs a highly professional business dealing in Solex parts. So beautifully and comprehensively organised that we’re just short of being able to order an entire new Solex – but it’s not far off. In the part of a striking building rented from an architect, we find a wonderful blend of pure enthusiasm and business acumen, ensuring that even tomorrow, dealers and enthusiasts of the famous ‘spinning wheel’ will be able to keep this iconic moped on the road.
Marcel had been collecting them for about five years when he counted his collection one day: there turned out to be 96 of them. A bit much for a hobby. Time for some streamlining, but not to scale it back. By trade, Marcel is a baker, and his knowledge of running a bakery now comes in very handy. A baker earns his money in very small amounts and only by working hard and long hours. On top of that, you’ve got to keep a sharp mind (read: the calculator) on the ball. The hobby became a profession, but delusions of grandeur were – and remain – alien to this industrious entrepreneur. Yet it could have been a substantial business, because when the Hungarian George Safar, together with his managing director Laski Kish, found themselves in a deadlock with their Solex factory, Marcel and his older brothers Wil (59) and Jan (64) entered into serious negotiations to purchase the entire Hungarian factory. At that time, 125 Solexes were ready for shipment to America. It was 2003, and there were quite a few complications with type approval. Tomos Netherlands held the rights, but director Henk Buiter did not stand in the way.
During the negotiations, a dispute arose over payment, and the contract had to be renegotiated several times as new Hungarian demands were made. Ultimately, however, the complications meant that the brothers returned to the Netherlands empty-handed.
A ‘medium-sized’ engine has been sourced
Brand-new cylinder with a third coil port. The Solex (OTO and newer models) runs better than ever with it. The piston rings are 1.5 mm thinner than the originals and feature a locking pin. These pistons are of good quality – unlike the previous ones, which kept seizing up. The whole set for 100 euros – not at all expensive
Buy a small factory?
It wasn’t possible to negotiate with the Hungarian company in the usual way. The idea was to produce around 5,000 units a year, which could be exported to various countries. However, the factory owner lacked one thing but had plenty of another; no money, but pride in abundance… The negotiations had stalled, but Safar knew for certain that his children had to receive four tonnes of euros, otherwise nothing would come of the deal. So transporting the machines to the Netherlands was out of the question. And producing there using working capital from the Netherlands? No, then ‘someone else’ would be in charge. Rent it out, then? Turn it into a living museum? Do anything at all? Not a chance; money, and right now, remained the answer. That was really the end of the line for the van den Ven brothers for a while. Shortly afterwards, the
Hungarian business went bankrupt and all the production equipment and assembly lines were scrapped for 18,000 euros (scrap metal price…).
You can buy a good Solex in Sevenum. It doesn’t break down
A spare tank with bracket is available in limited quantities from stock for €50.50 excl. VAT
‘You really need a motor mount like that for €37.00 excluding VAT,’ says Marcel. ‘It keeps your tank and ignition cap intact, and it looks better.’
Strangely enough, we did manage to buy parts that were still in sufficient stock. We were also able to start producing various parts. Most of the moulds needed to make these were still available. However, incorporating improvements designed by the van den Ven brothers themselves (such as on the crankcase in the photo below) wasn’t possible (yet?). The 3D plastic prototype shown here was an expensive undertaking. (Editor’s note: within a few years, the improved crankcases could be purchased from Marcel at an affordable price.)
The machines were gone. From then on, it was all manual work again, in a different location. When purchasing parts, they managed not to offend the Hungarian’s ‘pride’ whilst still paying in advance. Exclusivity for quite a few countries was also smoothly arranged. And that ‘sense of honour’ works to their advantage once again, as Safar and Kish have adhered to it impeccably to this day.
Crankshaft cases were designed to drawings, incorporating subtle improvements.
These curved handlebars are very attractive; an earlier series was too thick.
Conversely, the factory managers are still trying to build complete Solex bikes themselves, but when certain parts, such as pistons, run out, it is Marcel who arranges for them to be made. He delivers them back to what remains of the factory;
where – from time to time – five men still work. This creates a balance between the Dutch and the Hungarians. The in-house production of parts takes place, on an increasing sliding scale, under the supervision of Van de Ven. Nowadays, this is no longer done in Hungary, but partly even in-house, with the brothers Wil and, above all, Jan teaching Marcel all sorts of things. Just like when they were still little boys …
For €15.25 excl. VAT, your Solex will stand firmly on a new stand
Not much from China
The fact that the world’s largest country is involved in producing parts has now become ‘the norm’. Nevertheless, apart from India (20 per cent), most Van de Ven Solex parts come mainly from Europe (the remaining 80 per cent, in other words). ‘And besides that,’ says the passionate and enthusiastic hobbyist/manufacturer/repairer, ‘I still regularly snap up some great stock. There’s still plenty in France, but also right here in our “own Netherlands”. Bought, made and sometimes improved in-house: you can virtually
entire Solex can be assembled ‘from scratch’.
To go with the improved cylinder head with a central spark plug, a stainless steel engine lifter has also been developed in-house
Frames and mudguards are the final pieces, which are fewer in number. It’s much the same with crankcases, and this was an example of a ‘not yet successful’ project. After a great deal of drafting
on the computer, involving plans for subtle improvements, at the time of writing this article there was still nothing more than a 3D-printed plastic prototype crankcase, which did not meet the requirements. As this crucial component does not often break (the casting material actually disintegrates due to contamination and ageing), it was not yet worthwhile at the time to proceed any further after the 10,000 euros that had already been invested. (Editor’s note: as mentioned earlier, this has since been achieved and they are now available for purchase from Marcel).
Improved lightweight connecting rod. Thanks to the rib, it is 25 per cent stronger
Boring out cylinders is becoming an old craft. Fortunately, Marcel isn’t an old, wrinkled man just yet …
Back down to earth
Meanwhile, an elderly lady pops in to bring her Solex in for a service. She doesn’t want her photo taken, but the ‘customer-dealer chat’ is old-fashioned and friendly – and in itself almost a museum piece worth experiencing. Of course, there’s a row of Solexes in the – okay, showroom – complete with an odd one out: a Simplex with a Berini Ei, or an M 13. Mostly customers’ bikes, but there’s also one for sale. You’re either a Solex shop or you’re not. A genuine
as-good-as-new Solex costs around 2,000 euros excluding VAT at Marcel’s, and we actually find that quite reasonable. For two thousand euros, you’re certainly entitled to expect a bit of a treat. The Kreidler on the workbench also reveals that Marcel really does know more than just ‘Solex’. It turns out he has a history in motocross. And to think that we’d originally planned to tease him by challenging him to tell us about Zündapp… It turns out he even has a rare Zündapp Janus ‘bubble car’
, which is sitting amongst the bulk packs of Solex parts in the warehouse, waiting to be restored.
The stainless steel fuel tank bracket was developed by flattening an original one and ‘CNC-machining’ the shape to perfection. Just ‘bend’ the corners back into shape and you’ve got a stainless steel version
Oto saddle covers in all colours for €24 excluding VAT. They’re also available for the 3800, for €22 excluding VAT
The trade in new parts is steadily increasing and has long since gone global. That’s why, in an adjoining warehouse, the concepts of ‘efficiency’ and ‘large-scale’ are cautiously beginning to emerge. A downright amusing example of this is the ‘paternoster’ which
is back in the shop. You sometimes see one of these ‘carousel cabinets’ in a chemist’s or library. At Marcel’s, it’s packed with Solex parts.
Stainless steel valve lifter set. For €5.95 excl. VAT, no more trouble ever
Future
There isn’t a single ‘but’ in this story, even though, from a business perspective, one is unfortunately so often justified. This is a healthy business with a bright future. Margins are tight, but not too tight; he gets on well with his competitors (and even supplies them. Sometimes
he even simply refers them to his own suppliers). He can make a living from it, and so the restoration of his mini-cars (there’s also a Messerschmidt 200) is bound to happen one day. The business side of things is in excellent shape, and there’s a warm, friendly atmosphere in Sevenum too. You’ll naturally find yourself even more keen on a Solex when you end up on Helenaveenseweg in Sevenum (near Toverland). So when a ‘Koffertje’ was advertised on Marktplaats for next to nothing… It’s still a ‘slack-speed’ model, without a freewheel clutch. And as for being fast? Nah. That original engine can go in the display cabinet, because we’ve also got a non-running Oto model. I’m sure Marcel van de Ven will have some nice bits and pieces for that one…
Brand-new rear hubs from France. ‘42 euros’ excluding VAT, says the seller...
Information:
https://www.solex-onderdelen-limburg.nl/nl/
https://www.solex-onderdelen-limburg.nl/de/
https://www.solex-onderdelen-limburg.nl/en/
https://www.solex-onderdelen-limburg.nl/fr/
https://www.solex-onderdelen-limburg.nl/es/
https://www.solex-onderdelen-limburg.nl/pt/
https://www.solex-onderdelen-limburg.nl/da/
Pavement, umbrella, Rochefort. Which country did those Solexes come from again…