A Brief History of the Marque
Built in Bologna by Albino and Luigi De Togni.
De Togni F.lli, 1920-1924
Fondatori: Albino e Luigi De Togni
Address: Via Irnerio 19/f
Bologna
De Togni Albino, 1924-1967
Founder: Albino De Togni
Address: Via Ferrarese 7 Bologna
De Togni Luigi, 1924-1966
Founder: Luigi De Togni
Address: Via Irnerio 19/f
Bologna
In 1932 they built an unusual motorcycle-based side-by-side two seater with training wheels at the rear which could be raised, powered by a DKW 175cc engine.
Albino De Togni
Albino De Togni created tricycles designed which varied in configuartion according to intended use, ranging from smaller delivery and street vending machine to the truck-like transporters of various materials, including options with tipping cargo trays.
The firm Albino De Togni & Figlio, based at Via Ferrarese 7 (formerly Via Galliera), equipped its vehicles with Alpino engines, initially the 48 S and later the 60 ST (both 3-speed models) mounted either laterally or centrally, driving a single wheel and featuring a front-mounted cargo platform. While performance was acceptable, the vehicles were uncomfortable to drive and suffered from flaws regarding braking and engine cooling.
Postwar they built Sachs-engined lightweight motofurgoncini. A superior design was introduced which featured front-mounted controls and a rear cargo bed supported by two wheels (sans differential); the majority of these were powered by Sachs 98cc engines, with a few fitted with larger and smaller Sachs two-strokes.
De Togni machines featured technical improvements in construction details and equipment: rider comfort and weather protection, kick-starters, disc wheels, light-alloy brakes, wide-section tyres, fixed or tipping metal cargo beds, pressed-metal front forks and modern electrical systems.
The company was most active in the early 1950s, when Albino and his son Pietro adopted the NSU Fox 125 engine for their tubular steel frames, offering a choice of spoked or disc wheels. Competition was very strong, and caused the firm to cease manufacture and switch to supplying service, repairs, and spare parts. They closed in 1967.
Luigi De Togni
Like his brother Albino, Luigi De Togni was passionate about mechanics. He had his own business at Via Irnerio 19 where he built bicycles, but the war brought production to a halt. Following the defeat of the fascists, business resumed, once more building bicycles and adding various other activities which included the production of ciclomotors using Legnano engines fitted to chassis with front and rear suspension.
In the early 1950s he built a 3-wheeler named the Lisetta, powered by a Sunbeam 500 engine. It appears that only one of these was produced.
Luigi De Togni closed up shop in 1966
De Togni Turismo 1927
Sources: Museo del Patrimonio Industriale, Bologna, et al.
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