Lambretta Auteco Service Workshop scooter assembly department 1960s photo photo

Description

WE
ARE
CLEARING OUT OUR ARCHIVES!
A superb and rare photo of the
Lambretta Auteco Service Workshop scooter assembly department
.
The
Lambretta
was a line of motor scooters originally manufactured in Milan, Italy, by Innocenti but also manufactured under license by Société Industrielle de Troyes (S.I.T.) in France, NSU in Germany, Serveta in Spain,
API
in India, Pasco in Brazil, Auteca in Colombia, and Siambretta in Argentina. Lambretta has a long and interesting history. In 1922, Ferdinando Innocenti of Pescia built a steel-tubing factory in
Rome
. In 1931, he took the business to
Milan
where he built a larger factory producing seamless steel tubing and employing about 6,000. During the Second World War the factory was heavily bombed and destroyed. It is said that surveying the ruins, Innocenti saw the future of cheap, private transport and decided to produce a motor scooter – competing on cost and weather protection against the ubiquitous motorcycle. The main stimulus for the design style of the Lambretta and Vespa dates back to Pre-WWII Cushman scooters made in
Nebraska
,
USA
. These olive green scooters were in
Italy
in large numbers, ordered originally by
Washington
as field transport for the Paratroops and Marines. Aeronautical engineer General Corradino D'Ascanio, responsible for the design and construction of the first modern helicopter by Agusta, was given the job by Ferdinando Innocenti of designing a simple, robust and affordable vehicle. It had to be easy to drive for both men and women, be able to carry a passenger, and not get its driver's clothes dirty. D'Ascanio, who hated motorbikes, designed a revolutionary vehicle. It was built on a spar-frame with a handlebar gear change and the engine mounted directly on to the rear wheel. The front protection "shield" kept the rider dry and clean in comparison to the open front end on motorcycles. The pass-through leg area design was geared towards women, as wearing dresses or skirts made riding conventional motorcycles a challenge. The front fork, like an aircraft's landing gear, allowed for easy wheel changing. The internal mesh transmission eliminated the standard motorcycle chain, a source of oil, dirt and aesthetic misery. This basic design allowed a series of features to be deployed on the frame which would later allow quick development of new models. However, General D'Ascanio fell out with Innocenti, who rather than a moulded and beaten spar frame wanted to produce his frame from rolled tubing, there by allowing him to revive both parts of his pre-War company. General D'Ascanio disassociated himself with Innocenti, and took his design to Enrico Piaggio who produced the spar framed Vespa from 1946. Taking a year longer to produce, the 1947 Lambretta featured a rear pillion seat for a passenger, or optionally a storage compartment. The original front protection "shield" was a flat piece of aero metal; later this developed in to a twin skin to allow additional storage on the 'back of'/behind the front shield, similar to the glove compartment in a car. The fuel cap was underneath the (hinged) seat, which saved the cost of an additional lock on the fuel cap or need for additional metal work on the smooth skin. Deriving the name Lambretta from the small river Lambro in
Milan
, which ran near to the factory; Innocenti started production of Lambretta scooters in 1947 - the year after Piaggio started production of its Vespa models. Like Vespas, Lambrettas have 3 or 4 gears and two stroke motors with capacities ranging from 49cc to 198cc. Most two-stroke engines require a mixture of oil with the gasoline in order to lubricate the piston and cylinder. Unlike the Vespa, which was built with a unibody chassis pressed from sheets of steel, Lambrettas were based around a more rigid tubular frame, although the 'J' series model produced from 1964 through 1966 did have a monocoque body. Early versions were available in 'closed', with fully covered mechanicals or 'open', with minimal panels and thus looking like an unusual motorcycle. The model A and model B were only available in 'open' style. The C and D models were noted for their torsion bar rear suspension, the D model outsold every other 2 wheeled vehicle combined at its peak. The much greater success of the 'closed' version confirmed that riders wanted protection from the weather and a clean looking machine. Along with the Vespa, Lambretta was an iconic vehicle of the 1950s and 1960s when they became the adopted vehicle of choice for the
UK
youth-culture known as Mods. The character Jimmy from the influential scooter movie Quadrophenia rode a Lambretta Li 150 Series 3. Of the 1960s models, the TV (Turismo Veloce), the Special (125 and 150), the SX (Special X) and the GP Grand Prix are generally considered the most desirable due to their increased performance and refined look, the 'matt black' fittings on the GP model are said to have influenced European car designs throughout the 1970s. These three models came with a front disc brake made by Campagnolo. The TV was the first production two-wheeled vehicle with a front disc brake in the world. As the race to be the first person on the moon gathered pace, Innocenti's new model was launched, the Luna range (Luna meaning "moon", in Italian). The machines looked very advanced for their day, reverting back to the open frame style of the much admired 'D' types, and although sales were slow to start with, racing success from grass tracking to circuit racing, soon made them a sales success. Designed by Bertone Innocenti wanted a small frame and engine Lambretta that could be sold alongside the larger models. The frame was tubular steel front end, with bolt on leg shields, and a monocoque pressed steel rear frame. Lambrettas were manufactured under licence in
Argentina
,
Brazil
,
Chile
,
India
and
Spain
, sometimes under other names but always to a recognizable design (e.g. Siambretta in
South America
and Serveta in
Spain
). As wealth increased in
Western Europe
in the late 60s, the demand for motor scooters fell as the small car became available to more people, and Lambretta started to struggle financially as did parent Innocenti. Innocenti/Lambretta was eventually sold to BLMC. With BLMC's lack of foresight, they had cottoned on to a fashion trend that was ending rapidly. Long industrial strikes in
BMC
ensued; motor scooter sales took a nosedive and both Innocenti and Lambretta shut up shop in 1972. The Indian government bought the factory for essentially the same reasons that Ferdinando Innocenti had built it after the War.
India
was a country with poor infrastructure, economically not ready for small private cars yet with a demand for private transport. "Automobile Products of India" or "
API
", set up at
Bombay
(now Mumbai) was incorporated in 1949, began assembling Innocenti-built Lambretta scooters in
India
, where they still do so today. Popular models were the "Lamby 150", the TV 175 series 2, badged as "
MAC
175" and the Lamby Polo.
Contact us for more Lambretta and other motorcycle images of racing and production bikes and scooters and use the shipping discount!
This is your rare chance to own this photo that reflects a very interesting and highly historic piece of
motorcycle and Lambretta ‘s glorious history. Therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca. 7.5" x 9.1" (ca. 19 x
23 cm
).
We have more photos listed on Ebay, also motorcycle (racing) photos! Check them out and use the shipping discount! You can always contact us for any requests.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy.   For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files
and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.