At the age of 12 Bruno Rossati began working eleven hour days.
"Now, approaching 91, I find myself reminiscing about my youth, still riding my motorcycle every day.
Letter re Ladetto
A Brief History of the Marque
Giovanni Gerbi had a large bicycle company in Via Brofferio, Asti, with its own cycling team. The firm advertised motorcycles with 98, 125, 150 and 173cc Sachs engines in 1952-1954 - however, it is believed only the 150cc motorcycles were built, in limited numbers.
The frame of the 150 is the same (right down to the paint colour) as the Falco Sachs 150 motorcycle of Vercelli, as are the fork, wheels and brakes. The tank, saddle and other components of the Gerbi differ. The Maino 150 of Novi Ligure apparently also used the same frame and engine.
The firm also built bicyclettes using micromotors from Mosquito and Eolo. Additionally, they sold mopeds supplied by the Ardito which they rebranded as Gerbi.
Very few have survived - only two mopeds and two motorcycles are known.
Gerbi had a brother, Ermenegildo, a local bicycle dealer, and two sisters: Artemisia who married the unfortunate Alfredo Focesi, and Maria who married Antonio Prina.
Sources: MC Storico Conti, archivio.astigiani.it, et al.
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