Argy58
Ducati Meccanica Bologna c1950s
A great vintage DUCATI Meccanica Bologna enamel lapel badge that in all probability shows an illustration of a 1955 Ducati 125 Sport. A clever design, as the top of the 'shield shaped badge' shows the cut-out profile of the motorcycle. The badge is back-stamped with the maker's name, A. Alberti & C., Milano. Along with other Milanese makers such as Bertoni and Johnson, Alberti & C maintained the region's tradition of high quality enamel badges and this Ducati badge is no exception.
Although the Ducati brand is synonymous with motorcycling, motorbike racing and superbike racing, the company has its roots in manufacturing components for the radio industry. Established in Bologna (1926) by Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons, the company rapidly expanded and by the outbreak of WW2, over 7000 employees worked for Ducati.
Despite being repeatedly bombed during WW2, Ducati came through the ordeal by reinventing itself with a number of innovative products such as the Raselet electric razor, a modern intercom system called Dufono and...... bicycles. It was the latter product that launched their motorcycle business as Ducati began developing motorized bicycles that led, in 1946, to their 4-stroke clip-on bicycle engine. This was the highly successful Ducati Cucciolo with production ranging from the initial 50cc, up to the larger 125cc. While the Ducati Cucciolo was a hybrid bicycle/motor, the company's first real motorcycle was the Ducati 65cc Sport Edition, characterised by telescopic forks and swingarm.
This motorcycle set the bench mark for many successful Ducati models such as the 175cc Ducati Cruiser (1952), featuring automatic transmission and electric starter. Further successful models of the 1950s included the Spartan, Gran Sport and 4-stroke Tourist 274.
It was during the mid to late 1950s that Ducati turned their attention towards motorbike racing, underpinned by state of the art, valve system technology.......making their racing motorbikes particularly fast.
Ducati's racing pedigree gained momentum in the 1960s and in 1971 the Ducati 750 GT (Gran Turismo) was unleashed - a powerful machine of the day, ridden by Paul Smartto that won the legendary Imola 200 mile race. This paved the way for the Ducati 750 SS road version (1974), followed by the more powerful Ducati 900 SS (1978).
Since the introduction of the world championships in 1988, Ducati riders have won the event on 13 occasions and have won numerous Superbike championships and other world racing titles.
Ducati's headquarters still remain in Bologna and are now owned by Audi through their Italian subsidiary, Lamborghini.
Photography, layout and design: Argy58
(This image also exists as a high resolution jpeg and tiff - ideal for a
variety of print sizes e.g. A4, A3, A2 and A1. The current uploaded
format is for screen based viewing only: 72pi)
Ducati Meccanica Bologna c1950s
A great vintage DUCATI Meccanica Bologna enamel lapel badge that in all probability shows an illustration of a 1955 Ducati 125 Sport. A clever design, as the top of the 'shield shaped badge' shows the cut-out profile of the motorcycle. The badge is back-stamped with the maker's name, A. Alberti & C., Milano. Along with other Milanese makers such as Bertoni and Johnson, Alberti & C maintained the region's tradition of high quality enamel badges and this Ducati badge is no exception.
Although the Ducati brand is synonymous with motorcycling, motorbike racing and superbike racing, the company has its roots in manufacturing components for the radio industry. Established in Bologna (1926) by Antonio Cavalieri Ducati and his three sons, the company rapidly expanded and by the outbreak of WW2, over 7000 employees worked for Ducati.
Despite being repeatedly bombed during WW2, Ducati came through the ordeal by reinventing itself with a number of innovative products such as the Raselet electric razor, a modern intercom system called Dufono and...... bicycles. It was the latter product that launched their motorcycle business as Ducati began developing motorized bicycles that led, in 1946, to their 4-stroke clip-on bicycle engine. This was the highly successful Ducati Cucciolo with production ranging from the initial 50cc, up to the larger 125cc. While the Ducati Cucciolo was a hybrid bicycle/motor, the company's first real motorcycle was the Ducati 65cc Sport Edition, characterised by telescopic forks and swingarm.
This motorcycle set the bench mark for many successful Ducati models such as the 175cc Ducati Cruiser (1952), featuring automatic transmission and electric starter. Further successful models of the 1950s included the Spartan, Gran Sport and 4-stroke Tourist 274.
It was during the mid to late 1950s that Ducati turned their attention towards motorbike racing, underpinned by state of the art, valve system technology.......making their racing motorbikes particularly fast.
Ducati's racing pedigree gained momentum in the 1960s and in 1971 the Ducati 750 GT (Gran Turismo) was unleashed - a powerful machine of the day, ridden by Paul Smartto that won the legendary Imola 200 mile race. This paved the way for the Ducati 750 SS road version (1974), followed by the more powerful Ducati 900 SS (1978).
Since the introduction of the world championships in 1988, Ducati riders have won the event on 13 occasions and have won numerous Superbike championships and other world racing titles.
Ducati's headquarters still remain in Bologna and are now owned by Audi through their Italian subsidiary, Lamborghini.
Photography, layout and design: Argy58
(This image also exists as a high resolution jpeg and tiff - ideal for a
variety of print sizes e.g. A4, A3, A2 and A1. The current uploaded
format is for screen based viewing only: 72pi)