100 years of busch+müller

From humble beginnings to global market leader

The beginnings were extremely difficult, exactly 100 years ago.

Germany is still reeling from the aftermath of the First World War. Hyperinflation, political unrest and economic hardship dominate everyday life. Business is slow at a small metal goods factory on the lower Volmestraße in Meinerzhagen. When money starts disappearing from the cash register, the fate of the Eichholz company is sealed – it goes bankrupt. But two of the employees refuse to give up: 26-year-old locksmith August Busch and 16-year-old apprentice Willy Müller.
On 1 September 1925, they found their own company: Busch & Müller – bumm for short. Their goal: to turn adversity into opportunity. "My father often talked about this time," recalls Dr. Rainer Müller. The 82-year-old has been active in the business since 1967 and, following his father's death in 1995, is now the senior partner in the company. He has been running it since 1998 together with his son Guido (53), who, as the main person in charge, also represents the third generation. The Busch branch of the family had already left the business completely in 1980. The first few years are tough. Money is tight and materials are expensive. Support comes from Holzwipper – from Müller's father, who earns a modest living as a hammer smith and farmer. He repeatedly helps the young founders financially.

The breakthrough: cat's eyes from Meinerzhagen

In 1929, a Prussian law made reflectors mandatory for bicycles. The "cat's eyes" from busch+müller were also covered by this law. To obtain the test mark, Willy Müller travelled to Berlin by train – a decisive step. Shortly afterwards, mass production began and busch+müller became a pioneer in the ongoing technical development of lighting for two-wheelers. From 1935 onwards, the reflectors were replaced by rear lights with incandescent bulbs, powered by a three-watt dynamo – which is still the standard today. For decades, reflectors and rear lights in a wide variety of designs were to become the main products of busch+müller.

The product range in the 1930s and 1940s was broad: laundry beaters for the laundry room, protective helmets for motorcyclists, butter dishes and tableware made from the new material Bakelite, handlebar grips, air pump holders. Even a curious multifunctional device – a hot air shower, vacuum cleaner and washing machine in one – was created in the workshop.

"It's a shame that we no longer have any products from this in our archive. We only have a document about a utility model protection. Unfortunately, it was not a patent application.
Perhaps it would still be a worthwhile business today," says Rainer Müller with a smile.

1950s to 1970s: Mirrors, growth and new technology

After plastic replaced glass in reflectors and rear lights in the 1960s, new plastic technologies expanded the possibilities across the entire production range, especially for reflectors and rear lights, which remain at the core of the busch+müller brand. Production of rear-view mirrors began in 1957, making mirrors the second major pillar of the company's product range. Thanks to its business relationship with Opel for reflectors, busch+müller became the supplier of all mirrors for the Opel Kadett and Opel Rekord models from 1962 onwards. Up to 30,000 mirrors per month were delivered to Opel.

This continued into the 1970s. From 1969 onwards, and still today, busch+müller supplies mirrors for almost all BMW motorcycles in series production. At the same time, the company grows: relocation becomes necessary due to the new bypass in Meinerzhagen. The "Auf dem Bamberg" site is established in the 1960s.

1980s to 1990s: Innovations set standards

In the 1980s, spoke reflectors, front reflectors and luggage rack reflectors were added to the busch+müller product range. Shortly afterwards, a world first in technology followed: the world's first bicycle rear light with a capacitor-powered parking light function. It also served as a model for all future competitor products. Electronics found their way into busch+müller products.

In the same year, production of dynamo headlights began. busch+müller developed the "Lumotec" – the first halogen headlight with a circumferential reflector surface. In 1997, the company received DIN ISO 9001 certification for its quality management system and, thanks to this qualification, remains a permanent partner to many motorcycle and bicycle manufacturers.

2000s to today: From light to high-tech solutions

LED technology heralds the dawn of a new era: in 2005, busch+müller launches the first LED bicycle headlight approved for dynamo operation. This is followed in 2007 by the IQ-TEC headlight – a "lighting revolution", as it is known in professional circles. It more than doubles the brightness of headlights from 15 lux to 40 lux. With this, busch+müller ignited a competition that continues to this day for ever better road illumination and thus greater safety for cyclists. Later highlights: mirrors with indicators for BMW motorcycles, indicators and rear lights as well as headlights for BMW motorcycles, bicycle rear lights with brake light function, the LEVAL cornering light assistant, TURNTEC bicycle indicators and, in 2024, the Briq-XL digital app-controlled cornering light headlight.

100 years of busch+müller – thanks to our employees

Since 1925, 1,560 people have worked at busch+müller. For the Müller family, one thing is clear: this team is responsible for the company's success. "What we have achieved over the past 100 years is primarily thanks to the employees who have worked for us in the past or who are currently employed by us," conclude the two managing directors. "Without these many wonderful people, none of this would have been possible."