A Brief History of the Marque
Manufactured: 1949-1954
The Prina bicycle company was formed in 1929 in Asti (between Genoa and Turin) by Antonio Prina who was born in Asti on 3 September 1897.
There was a huge flood in Asti in 1948 which inundated the factory floor with over 1.5 metres of water, and as a result the workshops moved from Corso Alessandria to Viale Pilone. During this period the firm build cyclemotors with front suspension and drum brakes powered by Mosquito and Cucciolo engines.
The firm built a 125cc two-stroke scooter in 1949, and in 1950 this was joined by a light sports motorcycle with the same engine. In 1952 the Orix-Prina scooter was released powered by a 4-speed JLO engine of 173cc. Only about 100 examples were produced, one of which is in the Lambretta museum.
Antonio's brother-in-law was Giovanni Gerbi.
Sources: MC Storico Conti, archivio.astigiani.it, et al.
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