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A Brief History Royal Enfield | Moto Guzzi | Piaggio/Vespa
In 1955, the Indian government placed an order
for 800 military specification machines for ‘immediate service’
on the Pakistan border. The requirement placed a huge burden on
the Redditch factory, but it was met. The Bullet performed well,
and the government placed further orders of a similar magnitude,
prompting the company to set up a satellite factory in Chennai
(formerly Madras), India. At first, CKD (‘completely knocked
down’) kits were shipped to Madras where they were assembled,
and the following year the Indian factory was fully operational,
manufacturing the ‘India Enfield’ Bullet in its entirety.
By 1972, the Redditch factory
had ceased production and closed its doors forever. The
Indian factory carried on, however, responding to increasing
local demand for cheap, tough and reliable motorcycles. It is a
tribute to the original Royal Enfield designers that this same
factory has been able to turn out the same machine – essentially
a 1955 Royal Enfield Bullet – for over forty years.
In 1999, Watsonian-Squire Ltd, the world's oldest sidecar manufacturer, were appointed as official distributor for the United Kingdom. Following a successful re-launch, Watsonian rapidly established a nationwide dealer network and, building on the success of the standard Bullet, went on to produce numerous UK built special edition models at their factory in Gloucestershire.
Royal Enfield Key Dates 1850's: George Townsend & Co is formed in Redditch, specialising in sewing needles and machine parts 1880's: The company diversifies into bicycles, and becomes a limited company - George Townsend & Co. Ltd. 1892: Albert Eadie and Bon Walker Smith acquire the business, which is renamed The Eadie Manufacturing Co. Ltd. A contract follows with the Royal Small Arms factory, Enfield, Middlesex. The brand name 'Enfield' is used in all of their products. 1893: The Enfield Manufacturing Company is created. The word 'Royal' is added as a result of the association with Royal Small Arms, leading to the slogan 'Made Like a Gun'. 1896: A new company is launched to handle all cycle manufacturing operations, called The New Enfield Cycle Co Ltd. 1898: 'New' is dropped, and the company becomes the Enfield Cycle Co. Ltd. Work begins on motorised vehicles in this year. 1899: The first Royal Enfield motorised tricycles and quadricycles are produced, powered by French De Dion engines. 1901: The Royal Enfield Motorised Bicycle is launched. 1905/6: A new factory is built in Redditch to cope with expanding bicycle and motorcycle production. 1914-18: Motorcycle production is suspended during World War One. 1919: Post war sales grow quickly. New models launched include a range of V twin sidecar outfits, lightweight two strokes and OHV sports models - known as 'Bullets'. 1933: A new range of OHV (250, 350 and 500 cc) models is introduced. 1936: The Royal Enfield marque is in its heyday. Thirteen models are now in production, including the 976 cc K and 1140cc KX V-twins. The Bullet excels in road races and trials competitions. 1939-45: Bullet production is suspended during World War Two. 1949: The Royal Enfield 'G2' 350 cc Bullet is introduced. 1953: A 500cc version is introduced. In this year, the Indian Army orders eight hundred units. 1955: Enfield India Ltd is formed and begins manufacturing and assembly operations under license from the Redditch Enfield Cycle Company. 1962: Production of the Bullet is discontinued in the UK. 1963: The Crusader is launched in the UK; and discontinued in 1965 with disappointing sales. 1967: Decimated by Japanese competition, the UK factory ceases manufacturing. 1981/2: Record sales are reported by Enfield India Ltd, totalling 19,512 and 22,225 units respectively. 1983: The Japanese 100cc Suzuki is launched in India. 1987: Enfield reports losses for the first time in 10 years. 1990: A strategic alliance is formed between Enfield India and the multinational Eicher Group 1994: Enfield India Ltd is wholly acquired by Eicher. A programme of re-investment begins. 1996: Turnaround. Bullet sales improve to 21,621 in 1996, an increase of 31% over the previous year. 1998: Eicher commissions a new plant at Jaipur. 1999: Watsonian-Squire Ltd appointed official distributor for the UK. Two British special editions are launched - Clubman 'S' Café Racer and T350 Trail bike.
Moto Guzzi
On March 15, 1921 at Mandello del Lario, on the eastern shore of Lake Como in Italy, Carlo Guzzi, technical genius and designer, and his friend Giorgio Parodi, Emanuele's son, founded the "Società Anonima Moto Guzzi." Unlike almost all other motocycles, every component of Carlo Guzzi's envisioned motorcycle was rational and essential. First and foremost it had to guarantee functionality and reliability. That first prototype, which was so radically different from other bikes in its engine configuration and low-slung frame, did just that. This philosophy has been engrained in Guzzi products throughout the company's entire eighty-year life. The first motorcycles were known as G.P. (Guzzi-Parodi), but subsequent models were named Moto Guzzi to avoid confusion with Giorgio Parodi's initials . The eagle logo was added as a tribute to Giovanni Ravelli who died suddenly in an air accident. To promote the new make, Carlo Guzzi made his racing debut on May 28th 1921, entering the Milan-Naples race with the only two machines produced. They won 20th and 21st place. Only four months later Gino Finzi's Guzzi won a sensational first place at the famous Targa Florio. This was the start of the extraordinary series of 3,329 successes, 11 Tourist Trophies, and 14 World Championship Titles between 1921 and 1957. The racing experience was reflected in standard production machines in terms of quality and the adoption of technically avant-garde solutions. The Sport series was introduced in 1923 with outstanding success, especially with the Sport 15 model. This was followed in 1928 by launch of the GT, the first Moto Guzzi with an elastic frame, an innovation at first criticized and then adopted by all constructors throughout the world. In 1934: just 13 years after its founding, the 17 employees in the Guzzi factory at Mandello had swelled to 700. This same year the famous Guzzi 500 twin made its debut, going on to dominate the World Championship circuits unchallenged with its highly original 120° V engine. In 1935, the definitive international racing consecration came on the Isle of Man as the Guzzi 250 and 500 twin, both with elastic frame, were victorious in the Tourist Trophy. For the first time in history, a non-English bike had won what had already become the world's most important race and Moto Guzzi went down as a legend, along with the extraordinary racing protagonists of those years such as Tenni, Woods, Ruffo, Lorenzetti, and Anderson, to name just a few of the Guzzi official riders. In the 1930s, two new models were introduced: the P 175 and the P 250 along with their derivations the P.E., P.L., Egretta, Ardetta and the famous Airone 250, which was the most popular medium capacity motorcycle in Italy for almost 15 years. For private riders, racing models such as the Dondolino, Gambalunga and Condor were also developed. After the second war war, the motorcycle market changed radically. The war left Italy deeply scarred, with almost all roads damaged and cars too expensive for most people. The motorcycle became the main transportation vehicle, partly due to technological progress which developed highly efficient low powered motorcycles. After the war, Italians moved about on scooters and the so-called "lightweight motorcycles" which attracted a much larger public than their higher powered sisters. They delivered an acceptable speed while being strong, relatively clean and easy to ride and handle. These were the principal characteristics of the Guzzino 65 cc which was launched by Moto Guzzi in 1946. Designed by Antonio Micucci and re-christened the Cardellino in the 1950s, the Guzzino was the best-selling lightweight motorcycle in Italy and Europe for more than a decade. In fact, when the first rally was organized in 1949, just three years after its launch, 14,000 people participated. The unprecedented success of the Guzzino paved the way for production of other low capacity motorcycles. These ranged from the Galletto, the highly original hybrid between a scooter and a motorcycle, to the Zigolo, a 98 cc lightweight motorcycle and the Lodola 175 cc, the last design to bear Carlo Guzzi's name in 1956. At the higher capacity end of the range, in 1950 the then-outdated GTV 500 (later renamed the Astore) was replaced by the Falcone 500, becoming the dream of the majority of motorcyclists in the 1950s. In 1949, the first World Motorcycle Championships were held and, in the following decade until 1957, when Moto Guzzi participated for the last time, the company managed to astound enthusiasts with a series of amazing wins, creating a succession of innovative and consistently successful designs and machines. Along with Carlo Guzzi, the racing team included top mechanics such as Umberto Todero and Enrico Cantoni and a designer who became a legend, Giulio Cesare Carcano. After joining Moto Guzzi in 1936, he created the sensational Guzzi 500 Eight Cylinder. Considered by many as the most extraordinary two-wheeled machine of all time with its 90° V engine, the Eight Cylinder boasted the most extreme capacity staging ever achieved and demonstrated the exceptional technical level of the Mandello design department. As early as 1955 on its first official outing during the Belgium Grand Prix trials, the Eight Cylinder hinted at its extraordinary potential. The following year, with its 72 hp and 275 km/h, it went officially onto the tracks and triumphed. In 1957, the company's decision to withdraw from racing prevented further development of this spectacular machine. The 1960s brought major changes to the company. After the death of Giorgio Parodi in 1955, then of Carlo Guzzi in 1964, Moto Guzzi was acquired by SEIMM during the deep crisis which hit the motorcycling sector during those years. During that time, the company focused on lightweight machines such as the Dingo and Trotter mopeds, which were in great demand from the younger population, and the development of a new 90° V twin engine designed by Carcano which would become the symbol of Moto Guzzi. The Guzzi V7, launched in 1967, was the first motocycle fitted with Carcano's V twin with a capacity of 703 cc. It was remarkably successful and, after the V7 Special with 750 cc engine in 1971, the legendary V7 Sport was launched. This machine, with its elegant lines and exceptional stability, enjoyed extraordinary success. The Special, California and Ambassador versions were developed for the American market. In 1973, Guzzi became part of the De Tomaso Inc. group and began producing a series of four cylinder engines, culminating in the Guzzi 254. They then refocused production on development of the V twin which was very popular and identified the distinctive character of the Mandello company. All subsequent versions of the V7 adopted a Sport type frame and, in 1977, were also adapted to lower capacity versions via the Guzzi V35 and V50. These two models provided the basis of the whole range of Guzzi machines in the 1980s, with special attention paid to design. In the 1990s, from the California series to the Nevada and the V11 Sport, there was a radical revival of the Guzzi spirit. Today, Moto Guzzi, part of the Aprilia group, has launched the new V11 Sport Rosso Mandello. This is the fruit of the combination of tradition and innovation which has always characterized products bearing the Mandello eagle and represents the birth of a legend unequalled in the history of motorcycling.' Moto Guzzi history is reproduced by kind permission of Aprilia World Service
Piaggio 1822On September 5, Enrico Piaggio finalises the purchase of a tract of land at Sestri Ponente (Genoa) for the establishment of a wood working plant to supply the ship building industry. His son Rinaldo soon joins him in the project. 1887 - 1889 Aeronautical production begins. The social function which Rinaldo Piaggio wants for his firm soon becomes clear: to contribute to national employment growth and to the direction of national economic development. In 1920 the company is restructured with Attilio Odero becoming company President and Rinaldo Piaggio Managing Director. Firmly convinced about pursuing the aeronautical strategy, Rinaldo Piaggio takes on engineers Giovanni Pegna and Giuseppe Gabrielli and assigns them the task of producing a first prototype of the aircraft “Rondine” (Swallow). 1924 - 1937 1938 1946 1948 1964 - 1969 1973 - 1988 1990 - 1994 1996 - 1997 1999 - 2000 2001 2003 April 6th 2004 January 11th 2005 March 9th and 10th 2005 Piaggio history is reproduced by kind permission of Piaggio
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The
Royal Enfield Bullet in its current form was first
introduced in Britain in 1949. It incorporated an innovative new
design element - swing arm suspension, and this feature,
combined with the Bullet's sturdy frame and rugged single
cylinder engine, enabled it to excel in off-road competitions.
In 1953, a 500cc model was introduced, winning hundreds of
races, bringing the
Royal Enfield marque international recognition.
In
1994, Enfield India Ltd was acquired by the multinational Eicher
Group which immediately began to replace the original 1950’s
tooling
The legend of Moto Guzzi was born
in 1920 when blacksmith Giorgio Ripamonti and Carlo Guzzi built
their first motorcycle. It had a horizontal single cylinder,
four-stroke 500 cc engine, four-valve cylinder head and overhead
camshaft, bore 88 mm, stroke 82 mm. They presented the bike to
to Emanuele Vittorio Parodi, a Genoese ship owner who, after an
initial loan of two thousand lire, agreed to finance a
motorcycle production company.