A Brief History of the Marque
Manufactured in Asti, 1927-1948.
The small factory produced high quality 125cc 2T and 175cc OHV motorcycles along with 250cc racing machines, all in limited numbers. They also built lightweights powered by Sachs 70cc and 98cc engines, and postwar built an 85cc competition machine.
Born in Asti on November 11, 1886, Giovanni Gianoglio switched from bicycle racing to motorcycle racing in 1911, taking second place in a gruelling 600km race over roads best described as cart tracks. It was the beginning of a very successful career. In 1920 he took second place at the Sestriere Circuit riding a Fongri 500, and in 1922 he began racing with Frera before swapping to Della Ferrera. In 1923 he raced for Garelli, then moved to Maffeis in 1924, winning at the Monferrato Circuit in the 250 class.
He began building his own racing machines in 1924 whilst continuing to campaign for other manufacturers. In 1925 he campaigned for Atala in the 250, with a win in the "Otto delle Langhe" laurels in several other races. Early in 1926 he took a Garanzini 250 to second overall and first in the 250 class at the "Otto delle Langhe", and had wins riding the Maffeis in the La Spezia and Lodi races. 1927 saw similar performances, taking the national 250 class title.
Meanwhile, the production of Gianoglio motorcycles was gaining ground and in 1930 and 1931 he was once again the Italian champion of the second category for the 175 class on a machine with his name on the tank. Subsequently he raced only his own machine in various engine sizes until the post-war period, where we see him winning the special prize for small engine sizes at the 1945 Sassi-Superga. He would also ride at the 1947 Asti Circuit and the 1948 Alessandria Circuit, at which time he was a grandfather.
Gianoglio had premises in Torino and also in Asti at Corso Alfieri 106, where he had agencies for Frera, Bianchi and for MM, who supplied the engines for his 125cc 2T and 175cc OHV models.
He also had a relationship with Ladetto & Blatto, and some of his machines had their engines and other components. Blatto himself worked on Giovanni's racing machines.
Giovanni Gianoglio, knighted (nominato cavaliere), died in Asti in 1968 at the age of 82.
Sources: MC Storico Conti, archivio.astigiani.it, et al.
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