OMC Motorcycles Calabria

A Brief History of Officine Meccaniche Calabresi

Founded in the Calabria region of southern Italy by Vincenzo Bruzzese who had been working in Torino in the north, who persuaded a number of his colleagues to join him, amongst them the highly talented and experienced Giovanni Ladetto.

By 1930 the factory had 200 employees including a number of mature women. Bruzzese also built a recreational area where the workers could read and relax. He was far ahead of his time in many ways, and there were those who frowned on his attitude.

The OMC 175 was launched in 1931 and very quickly became popular throughout Italy due to both its excellent quality and pricing. Designed by Ladetto, the OMC engine was closely based on his earlier creations and there is at least one surviving example with a "Ladetto" branded engine.

The following year the motorcycle parade on the Via dell'Impero during celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the March on Rome was led by twelve OMC machines.

Ladetto began designing 250cc and 500cc OMC engines, and also worked on aviation projects including a vertical takeoff aircraft and a radial aircraft engine, the latter funded in 1933 by the Italian Air Ministry.

Vincent Bruzzese was accused of fraud which caused a bank to fail. In a highly suspect show trial which lasted a mere two weeks, he was found guilty a jailed. Four years later a high court confirmed his innocence, but by then the company had been bankrupted and the fascists had destroyed all the files and blueprints - an unthinkable crime which damaged the whole of Italy.

Some 200 motorcycles were built, two of which have been displayed at the Museo delle Due Ruote, Domenico Macri in Calabria.

Sources: ottw.es, motospia.it, inuovivespri.it.

N.B. There were several Italian OMC marques.