The Kimman company has been in the service of transport for well over a century. From the stately Haarlemmer Hout they transported us from the first so-called ‘chug chug’ to the streamlined cars of today.
"Make sure that you know your business and always look around": the motto of smith Jacobus Kimman. Through his passion for the trade great-grandfather Kimman was a typically old-fashioned artisan who bended the recalcitrant material to his will with great pleasure.
But there was something else one would not expect from a humble nineteenth-century handicraftsman: an uncontrollable urge to create a means of transport with which people could travel faster. He decided to send his two sons, Hendrik and Frans, abroad for a training period of eight years. First to Brussels and later to Paris; quite extraordinary at that time. At Mulbachère and Keller & Fils respectively the Kimman brothers were taught the tricks of the trade. At the so-called 'Cours Professionel des ouvriers en Voitures' one of the brothers even succeeded in winning first prize, twice. Unfortunately this made the French so jealous that they decided not to award any more prizes to foreign people. The Kimman brothers returned home and in 1884 they started the production of their first carriage wheels on the Houtplein in Haarlem. Automobile company Kimman owes its existence to the rise and flourishing of the carriage production at the end of the eighteen-eighties. Carriage wheels at that time were essential elements. After the introduction of the ‘iron’ horse, the flesh and blood version for many years remained man’s indispensable and loyal helper. Soon the company expanded and started to produce entire carriages. Their neighbour across the street placed their first order and the production of the so-called “Berliner carriages’ was started. The young company soon earned an excellent reputation and it was not long before the Haarlemmer Hout was bustling with fine equipages; the so-called ‘Jan Plezier’ carriages of Kimman. These shiny, polished, beautifully shaped carriages with their pale yellow barouches and blue char-à-bancs stole the show.
At the end of the nineteenth century a handful of chuffing cars were nothing compared to the gleam and brilliance of such a splendid aristocratic carriage. And yet, one came and the other disappeared. For good!
In 1896 the first car appeared on polder roads in the North Netherlands. The enterprising owner of this unique vehicle was notary Bax from Wieringerwaard. With firm tugs and turns at the wheel he tried very hard not to hit any cows, chickens, pot-holes and puddles of mud. The towering and rising clouds of dust produced by this car gave away his presence for miles around. Everywhere this ‘treacherous’ vehicle passed with frightful speed, its driver pinched the rubber ball of his car horn and produced enough noise to scare the living daylight out of any human or animal.
It was not long before local authorities declared the first prohibition as a result of the introduction of the first ‘chug chug’. In Amsterdam the first car was ‘brought in’ by the police! Today a number of these precious vehicles dating from the pioneering age can be admired in the automobile museum in Driebergen, complete with wooden spokes, massive tires, brass carbide lanterns and signal horns with rubber hose and ball.
A new era had arrived indeed: carriages without horses. The car was to evolve into a means of transportation with a more functional design. Hendrik and Frans changed gears at exactly the right moment: the gear into the twentieth century.
---Frans passed away in 1914 and in 1917 the company became a public limited company and Hendrik became chairman of the board. Not all ten children were suitable candidates for continuing the business and they decided in 1918 to split up the family company. This decision would prove to have significant consequences in the future.
The automobile company expanded rapidly after they started with the construction of wooden bodyworks on Cadillac, Lancia and Auburn chassis. The company grew out into a very successful enterprise and produced various types of carriage jewels in many genres, ranging from distinguished ‘voitures’ to the simplest of so-called dog carts.
In addition to these carriages Kimman produced a so-called landauer for Queen Emma between 1910 and 1920. A funny anecdote about the landauer: as a standard two spare carbide lanterns were included because the electric lights would no doubt fail several times. Kimman also delivered two so-called Victorias to Dutch Queen Wilhelmina, who at that time was still very young, a coupé to prince Hendrik as well as a Victoria to the Belgian court and the Sultan of Deli. Today, a number of these pedigree horses can be admired in Palace ‘Het Loo’ and the royal stables in Brussels.
The car provided people with a handy, easily manoeuvrable means of transportation with which traffic of people and goods could be carried out swiftly and to the remotest places. The car has brought us humans further than ever in our restless ambition to continuously increase our prosperity. But one flash of wit was not enough to get us there. Almost every improvement on the car has been the result of laborious research and countless experiments. Kimman lives this automobile development process as if it was a game and they were live contestants. With their dealership of Spijker, Hudson and Essex a new era has arrived in which everything in the field of car technology seems to be possible.
After Frans and his brother, who both also followed a thorough education in France – at that time automobile country number one – the company was taken over by grandfather chief Kimman, father Jos and son Joost.
Jos Kimman:
"When we compare a car from those early days with any of our latest models provided with the latest in advanced technology, the people from that early age definitely deserve a huge compliment. All efforts by these pioneers have made it possible for us to glide around in cars with exceptional driving qualities and unbelievable comfort. One detail has strongly remained. For how proud they were that the Dutch Spijker was the first six cylinder car in the world. Developments have not stopped. Almost all technology, for example the electric starter, lighting, synchronized gears, air tires, heating and telescopic dampers, have followed one another at breakneck speed. Our predecessors had to start their car with a crank, while we can start our cars in the blink of an eye with just the ignition key. In those days people had to bend over backward to keep their vehicle under control, whereas nowadays people slide through traffic with the greatest ease.
Selling our first Jaguar was an unforgettable experience. One kitten leaped over the ditch, and the rest followed. Actually, very many of them did. In 1950 cars were in short supply. At that time there were maybe ten to fifteen Jaguars in the Netherlands. We were the first Jaguar dealer and we still represent the dealership for the Amsterdam region and surrounding areas today. In addition to Jaguar, we are also the certified dealer of Land-Rover, Rover, MG and Mini for the Haarlem region and surrounding areas. It al went very quickly and before we realized there were more than a hundred people working in our company. After establishing offices at the Stadhouderskade, Gerrit van der Eenstraat and Gaaspstraat in Amsterdam and at de Zijlweg in Haarlem, we decided to start operating more efficiently from two new offices at the Kollengbergweg in Amsterdam and the Schipholweg in Haarlem."
Today, after having completed a thorough education at the school of business in England, Joost Kimman is at the helm of the company and very glad that his father allowed him to steer the ship. He got his greatest kick when he earned his first Mini Metro when he had reached his first target. Not surprisingly other models were added to his wish list soon after.
Joost:
"In 1983 we started exporting our cars to countries throughout the world. It has taken a flight. In the meantime we have built up a good and reliable reputation. But above all I really enjoy the contact we have with our customers in our offices in Haarlem and Amsterdam. So everyone who wants to know more about cars – in particular the Jaguar and Rover – is very welcome. Always."
Kimman is constantly searching for ways of improvement and development. There never was any stagnation, for this would mean that this story of Kimman could never have been written.
"Make sure that you know your business and always look around": the motto of smith Jacobus Kimman. Through his passion for the trade great-grandfather Kimman was a typically old-fashioned artisan who bended the recalcitrant material to his will with great pleasure.
But there was something else one would not expect from a humble nineteenth-century handicraftsman: an uncontrollable urge to create a means of transport with which people could travel faster. He decided to send his two sons, Hendrik and Frans, abroad for a training period of eight years. First to Brussels and later to Paris; quite extraordinary at that time. At Mulbachère and Keller & Fils respectively the Kimman brothers were taught the tricks of the trade. At the so-called 'Cours Professionel des ouvriers en Voitures' one of the brothers even succeeded in winning first prize, twice. Unfortunately this made the French so jealous that they decided not to award any more prizes to foreign people. The Kimman brothers returned home and in 1884 they started the production of their first carriage wheels on the Houtplein in Haarlem. Automobile company Kimman owes its existence to the rise and flourishing of the carriage production at the end of the eighteen-eighties. Carriage wheels at that time were essential elements. After the introduction of the ‘iron’ horse, the flesh and blood version for many years remained man’s indispensable and loyal helper. Soon the company expanded and started to produce entire carriages. Their neighbour across the street placed their first order and the production of the so-called “Berliner carriages’ was started. The young company soon earned an excellent reputation and it was not long before the Haarlemmer Hout was bustling with fine equipages; the so-called ‘Jan Plezier’ carriages of Kimman. These shiny, polished, beautifully shaped carriages with their pale yellow barouches and blue char-à-bancs stole the show. At the end of the nineteenth century a handful of chuffing cars were nothing compared to the gleam and brilliance of such a splendid aristocratic carriage. And yet, one came and the other disappeared. For good!
In 1896 the first car appeared on polder roads in the North Netherlands. The enterprising owner of this unique vehicle was notary Bax from Wieringerwaard. With firm tugs and turns at the wheel he tried very hard not to hit any cows, chickens, pot-holes and puddles of mud. The towering and rising clouds of dust produced by this car gave away his presence for miles around. Everywhere this ‘treacherous’ vehicle passed with frightful speed, its driver pinched the rubber ball of his car horn and produced enough noise to scare the living daylight out of any human or animal. It was not long before local authorities declared the first prohibition as a result of the introduction of the first ‘chug chug’. In Amsterdam the first car was ‘brought in’ by the police! Today a number of these precious vehicles dating from the pioneering age can be admired in the automobile museum in Driebergen, complete with wooden spokes, massive tires, brass carbide lanterns and signal horns with rubber hose and ball.
A new era had arrived indeed: carriages without horses. The car was to evolve into a means of transportation with a more functional design. Hendrik and Frans changed gears at exactly the right moment: the gear into the twentieth century.
---Frans passed away in 1914 and in 1917 the company became a public limited company and Hendrik became chairman of the board. Not all ten children were suitable candidates for continuing the business and they decided in 1918 to split up the family company. This decision would prove to have significant consequences in the future.
The automobile company expanded rapidly after they started with the construction of wooden bodyworks on Cadillac, Lancia and Auburn chassis. The company grew out into a very successful enterprise and produced various types of carriage jewels in many genres, ranging from distinguished ‘voitures’ to the simplest of so-called dog carts.
In addition to these carriages Kimman produced a so-called landauer for Queen Emma between 1910 and 1920. A funny anecdote about the landauer: as a standard two spare carbide lanterns were included because the electric lights would no doubt fail several times. Kimman also delivered two so-called Victorias to Dutch Queen Wilhelmina, who at that time was still very young, a coupé to prince Hendrik as well as a Victoria to the Belgian court and the Sultan of Deli. Today, a number of these pedigree horses can be admired in Palace ‘Het Loo’ and the royal stables in Brussels. The car provided people with a handy, easily manoeuvrable means of transportation with which traffic of people and goods could be carried out swiftly and to the remotest places. The car has brought us humans further than ever in our restless ambition to continuously increase our prosperity. But one flash of wit was not enough to get us there. Almost every improvement on the car has been the result of laborious research and countless experiments. Kimman lives this automobile development process as if it was a game and they were live contestants. With their dealership of Spijker, Hudson and Essex a new era has arrived in which everything in the field of car technology seems to be possible.
After Frans and his brother, who both also followed a thorough education in France – at that time automobile country number one – the company was taken over by grandfather chief Kimman, father Jos and son Joost.
Jos Kimman:
"When we compare a car from those early days with any of our latest models provided with the latest in advanced technology, the people from that early age definitely deserve a huge compliment. All efforts by these pioneers have made it possible for us to glide around in cars with exceptional driving qualities and unbelievable comfort. One detail has strongly remained. For how proud they were that the Dutch Spijker was the first six cylinder car in the world. Developments have not stopped. Almost all technology, for example the electric starter, lighting, synchronized gears, air tires, heating and telescopic dampers, have followed one another at breakneck speed. Our predecessors had to start their car with a crank, while we can start our cars in the blink of an eye with just the ignition key. In those days people had to bend over backward to keep their vehicle under control, whereas nowadays people slide through traffic with the greatest ease. Selling our first Jaguar was an unforgettable experience. One kitten leaped over the ditch, and the rest followed. Actually, very many of them did. In 1950 cars were in short supply. At that time there were maybe ten to fifteen Jaguars in the Netherlands. We were the first Jaguar dealer and we still represent the dealership for the Amsterdam region and surrounding areas today. In addition to Jaguar, we are also the certified dealer of Land-Rover, Rover, MG and Mini for the Haarlem region and surrounding areas. It al went very quickly and before we realized there were more than a hundred people working in our company. After establishing offices at the Stadhouderskade, Gerrit van der Eenstraat and Gaaspstraat in Amsterdam and at de Zijlweg in Haarlem, we decided to start operating more efficiently from two new offices at the Kollengbergweg in Amsterdam and the Schipholweg in Haarlem."
Today, after having completed a thorough education at the school of business in England, Joost Kimman is at the helm of the company and very glad that his father allowed him to steer the ship. He got his greatest kick when he earned his first Mini Metro when he had reached his first target. Not surprisingly other models were added to his wish list soon after.
Joost:
"In 1983 we started exporting our cars to countries throughout the world. It has taken a flight. In the meantime we have built up a good and reliable reputation. But above all I really enjoy the contact we have with our customers in our offices in Haarlem and Amsterdam. So everyone who wants to know more about cars – in particular the Jaguar and Rover – is very welcome. Always."
Kimman is constantly searching for ways of improvement and development. There never was any stagnation, for this would mean that this story of Kimman could never have been written.
Nederlands