Gamoto, S.A. was founded by Josep Sentés Armengol.
Between 1952 and 1973 almost 500 motorcycles were built by Gamot SA in Reus, Camp de Tarragona, España.
The story begins in 1945 when the 17 year old Josep created a motorcycle from a disused DKW industrial engine and a photograph of an Italian scooter.
Josep Sentís' family had a garage at number 14 Roser Street in Reus. He grew up surrounded by cars and other vehicles, and dreamed of building his own motorcycle. He obtained a German DKW RT 125 engine, which the owner had acquired during the Spanish Civil War for use in an electrical generator.
With that engine and the help of the garage's bodywork specialist, who, in his free time and based on a photograph of an Italian motorcycle from a magazine, shaped the bodywork of the prototype of what would become the first Reddis motorcycle.
Despite lacking a license, young Josep went to test his new toy at night in the Coll d'Alforja area, but the first attempt ended in failure. The cowled engine, installed at the rear of the motorcycle and air-cooled, overheated and seized. Further modifications ensued, but the next test ended in a minor accident.
Encouraged by his uncle Julio Armengol Iglesias and with the help of his brother Jordi, he set up a small motorcycle workshop. They spent a further two years working on the engine. Based on the DKW, they modernized the gearbox, redesigned the crankcase, cylinder, cylinder head, and clutch discs, and commissioned manufacturers in Barcelona and Bilbao to produce the flywheel and carburetor.
The first motorcycle "made in Reus" was ready in 1952. After overcoming many vicissitudes and finally founding Gamoto, S.A., the first sales took place in January 1955. The first motorcycle was sold for 16,000 pesetas and bore the license plate T-6649.
He built mostly 125cc models using his own engines and those of Hispano-Villiers. A total of 499 units were manufactured.
The Reus Municipal Police acquired some Reddis motorcycles in May 1958 for their daily duties. A popular joke of the time went (in Catalan) Amb una Reddis no ti enredis (Don't get tangled up with a Reddis). (The English used similar jokes, ie - BSA: Basket Stopped Again)
The firm also built agricultural equipment, and a small number of cars powered by a 250cc Reddis engine.
Sources: ca.wikipedia.org; Autopasion18.com
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