About legendary mopeds and their factory

Tomos mopeds were once everywhere around us. Today we meet many other types and brands of two -wheelers, but we still see Tomosa, in many places. They are obviously really hardy, permanent. Unfortunately, the factories she made has been gone for several years. Her story and of course the story of her products are in the book Tomos 1954–2019: Our mopeds list Edo Glavic and Iztok Vidmar.

What prompted the author to prepare a book? ““ “Many of the contributions, publications, also made some films and some exhibitions and collections have been published about Tomos, unfortunately none of the whole exhibitions and collections. After one of these events, former colleagues decided that we need to write the missing and at least resolve from oblivion, « says Iztok Vidmar. “I was employed in Tomos for 17 years, from trainee to a manager. We lived with the factory and for it. For many years, I was thinking that it was necessary to write how it was created, developed, contributed to the development of the place, the country. What is written on the basis of documented facts will also remain for future generations, « adds Edi Glavic.

The book, extensive work based on preserved material and records of authors, was published by the Association of ancient vehicles of Slovenia and the Adria Classic Koper Society. It is complemented by photographs from the legacy of the factory photo, tables, graphic displays, copies of the documents. It learns how the idea for this kind of production came about, how the construction of the factory was initially intended for Sežana (hence the name Tomos as an abbreviation for the Sežana engine factory), and was erected in Koper, what it consisted of, what and how much it worked at home and abroad. But about how she built the home environment and was involved in it, after all, there is also a record of people who have been part of her work in one way or another.

The most successful model automatic

During all this time, over 70 types of motorcycles and mopeds came from mounting strips, with a total of more than 2.5 million two -wheelers. The most successful model was automatic. While in 1955 they began assembling motorcycles under the Steyr-Daimler-Pucha license, with the aim of developing their products afterwards, the automatic was already entirely the result of domestic knowledge. It was powered by a powerful two -stroke engine with an original automatic two -stage gearbox. It has been made for 35 years with updates, totaling over 1.25 million specimens. Tomos mopeds were not only made for Yugoslavia, Slovenia, they were sold in many places across Europe and around the world. Tomos had factories in the Netherlands, Ghana, Italy, mopeds consisting in Serbia and China.

The factory in Koper also produced motor pumps, forage engines, saws, motocultivators, according to the car’s license – the Citroën brand, which were assembled 30,000 between 1962 and 1972. The car activity was based on the trade in Tomos, for the rest of the parts needed to install cars in Koper. Things were well run first, there was an expansion to Senozeče and Buzet, and then in 1972, according to the authors of the book, a decision to exclude automotive production was taken, which impoverished Tomos’ staff, especially professional, and left long -term developmental consequences.

The most successful moped was automatic, with 1.25 million in several designs. Photo: Tomos Archive

This was also the end of the first climax of the company, followed by more ups and downs, as the factory was constantly facing changes in economic and political conditions, including unexpected events. When they rehabilitated the company in the 1980s and completely renovated the offer of mopeds, the economic crisis, with it high inflation, administrative measures, social disagreements, constant devaluation, followed by the breakup of the Yugoslav market and then the first bankruptcy.

The next culmination was the diversion to the production of components for the automotive and furniture industry, as well as the simultaneous production of mopeds for emptied Western European and US markets and the opening of Chinese. However, it was not easy with the Chinese from the Shanghaja area; They had constantly new technical requirements, negotiated with a figure in their pocket, and then overnight came a ban on the import of all mopeds.

Tomos also consisted of citroën, including sleepers. Photo: Tomos Archive

Back in 1996, Tomos achieved a record monthly production of mopeds, and then globalization prevailed and the relocation of such industry to Asia. The last mopeds came from Tomos in Koper in 2018, for Pošta Slovenije. The company, which at the time rented equipment, premises and brand, went into liquidity problems, last led to its end.

Tomos moped was also well used by mail. Photo: Andrej Krbavcic

The premises of the former Tomos are still undergoing production, including motorcycle components for established European manufacturers, demanding light casting parts for the automotive and motor industry, and powerful automated production and prefabricated lines for various activities. However, this production is no longer under the once -world -renowned Tomos brand.

The heritage of Tomos

According to the authors, Tomos is primarily a story of long -term planning for the development of an environment and entrepreneurship and achieving goals that are unattainable at first glance. Proof of how people from different places can be combined, differently speaking, and in a good collective overcome all obstacles. They built a modern and beautiful city from the Trieste backlay hinterland and then left it without vision and styles of capital interests.

However, if we are talking about a material legacy, this is a continuation of production on the premises of the former Tomos, as well as the Museum Collection of Products and the documentary material kept in the Provincial Archives and the Central Library of Srečko Vilhar in Koper. Various collections of mopeds stand out: at the Bistra Technical Museum, in the Secondary Technical School in Koper, Moped and Motorcycle Collections have many private collectors in Koper, Nova Gorica, Vransko, also abroad.

The factory is gone, and Tomos moped lovers still meet every year. Photo: Iztok Vidmar

Many Tomos mopeds, of course, still drive, for many years at the end of April, organized by the Adria Classic Koper Society at the location of the former factory, the meeting was held, this year it has been seventeenth. Proud owners are brought there with a wide variety of tomos, including specimens made in 1965 or even earlier.