Bernie Debus and the Sydney-built "Bianchi" bikes

[Johnj]

Bernard Christian Debus was a frame builder who started at 228 Liverpool Road, Enfield between 1927 and 1932. He was briefly at 186 Liverpool Road, Ashfield, before moving to Melbourne to work for Malvern Star. I just stumbled on this little brochure, from about 1933, billing his shop in Ashfield as the "Bianchi Cycle Works". Thought this was an interesting piece of brand appropriation.

[WyvernRH]

That is a really interesting slice of history!
Might not be appropriation - were Bianchi famous back then? It simply means 'White' IIRC in Italian?

Richard

[Johnj]

Were Bianchi famous back then? It simply means 'White' IIRC in Italian?

Richard

Bianchi were amongst the oldest bike builders in the world, starting in 1885 they were as old as Speedwell. They sponsored a cycling team from 1900, which featured in stage results in the Giro nearly every every year in the 1930s. They also sold cars and motorbikes in Australia, see article from 1922. Bradley Brothers were the importers in Sydney around this time.

I'd be surprised if Bernie Debus wasn't aware of Bianchi.

[WyvernRH]

Were Bianchi famous back then? It simply means 'White' IIRC in Italian?

Richard

Bianchi were amongst the oldest bike builders in the world, starting in 1885 they were as old as Speedwell. They sponsored a cycling team from 1900, which featured in stage results in the Giro nearly every every year in the 1930s. They also sold cars and motorbikes in Australia, see article from 1922. Bradley Brothers were the importers in Sydney around this time.

I'd be surprised if Bernie Debus wasn't aware of Bianchi.

Hmm, point taken, I didn't realize Bianchi had made it out here to Oz at that period in time.

Richard

[Roisin79]

Their racing motorbikes were interesting , they made a compact four cylinder racer before Honda did. They started off celeste but by the '60s were more an electric blue colour.