Re: [CR]1930s racers

(Example: Framebuilders:Chris Pauley)

From: <themaaslands@comcast.net>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org (Classic Rendezvous)
Subject: Re: [CR]1930s racers
Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 18:06:36 +0000

Jan wrote:
> Back to Olmo - do you (or anybody else) have a reference for the fact
> that his brother was involved in the company (companies, in fact,
> there seems to have been an entire industrial empire of which
> bicycles only were a small part)? The next VBQ will feature a
> wonderful 1961 Olmo... and any author has to adhere to VBQ's
> standards, including myself.

This is very simple to do: go to the Olmo website (www.olmo.it) where it clearly states that Giuseppe founded the company alongside his brothers. You can also go to the company registrar's office in Italy and they too will confirm this fact. Otherwise call up the company directly in Italy and ask to speak to one of the 3rd generation Olmo family members that are still working there (yes, I have spoken to them!)
> Also, does anybody know whether Learco Guerra built frames or was
> otherwise involved in the daily running of the company, or did he
> just "rent" his name?

It has always been told to me that Learco Guerra never built frames himself, but that he was involved in the day to day running of the business. Again Italian corporate registration records will prove the Guerra holdings in the company (but not whether he built any frames personally). It should however be pointed out that I believe all the Guerra bikes were all built after he was over 40 years old and it would have been highly unlikely that a national hero would resort to what was then considered a low-paying and menial job. More likely would have been for him to enter as overseer or 'prestanome'. Prestanome is an Italian word that perfectly fits this situation, it translates to 'name lender'.

--
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ