Georges Richard 1896 belonged to Gian Ferdinando Tomaselli

Description

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Georges Richard was an innovative car manufacturer, inventor of the Unic brand of cars, trucks and coaches, created in 1905, which later became Iveco. Having settled in Paris in 1890, he opened a workshop for the manufacture and repair of bicycles. The bicycle then aroused such enthusiasm that he opened new showrooms and sales shops with his brother, and then founded the “Société des Cycles Georges Richard” in 1893. The bicycles were guaranteed for life against any manufacturing defects. This will allow the brand to include the Army, postal and telegraph services among its customers. Their success at the 1893 cycle fair prompted them to expand further and the company to evolve into the “Georges Richard Cycle and Automobile Construction Company”. The bicycle was then forgotten in favor of the advent of the automobile. The brand is represented by a four-leaf clover, the posters are beautiful.

Tomaselli, this is the surname registered at the registry office even if in reality the real family name was Tommaselli, was among the greatest sprinters at the end of the 19th century. He also won prestigious laurels abroad where he excelled in many meetings ahead of the strongest specialists of the time, contributing with his triumphs in a fundamental way to the affirmation of cycling in Italy. Among other things, he was the first Italian cyclist to win a world title, in the only edition of the Tandem World Championship (in 1900 in Paris with the Dutch Meyers). Once his competitive activity was over, he became responsible for the racing department of “Bianchi” where he achieved other significant successes.

The bike presented is from 1896 and is one of the first bikes used by Gian Ferdinando Tomaselli.

The bike is in excellent condition and original in all its parts. The saddle has probably been replaced.

The bike was purchased from the Tomaselli family and is certified. It was exhibited at an exhibition dedicated to Gian Ferdinando Tomaselli, sponsored by the Gazzetta dello Sport, composed of the Tomaselli collection, documented by an article by Rino Negri and Pier Bergonzi published in the Gazzetta dello Sport on 12 August 2020.