Gilco
Looking for possibilities to expand his fathers tube-manufacturing business (used extensively in the bicycle industry) Gilberto Colombo moved into the automotive chassis business, becoming famous for the light weight and strength of his products which used circular or elliptic section tubes welded together. One of his first customers was Ferrari, who used chassis' from Gilco in many of their cars (including the 125, 166, 212S, 340 Mexico, 250MM, 500S, 250GT and some F1 cars). Other car companies followed, including Cisitalia, Fiat, Stanguellini, Osca, Giannini, Alfa Romeo, Zagato, Maserati (various A6, 150S, 200S and others) and Nardi.
Gilco also construced a very small number of their own cars, and also built chassis' for private customers, mainly in the 750 and 1100 Sport categories, who used mechanicals and engines from various sources, often the ubiquitous Fiat 1100. Source
Carrozzeria Riva from Merate (Como) was in its existence not always busy with build of cars. It was the journalist and coureur Giovannino Lurani Cernuschi that its vehicle park wanted to maintain through Riva and Riva sometimes the task gave a risk to build, as for instance the 'Nibbio' record car from 1935. On basis of a Gilco-Cattaneo chassis on the order of Lurani were built also a number of Alfas. The Gilco-Cattaneo pipe frame had been designed by the engineer Guido Cattaneo in cooperation with the specialized firm Gilco, that also supplier was by pipe frames for the first Ferrari's. Cattaneo had yet a number Alfa 2500 SS motors lie from for the war and built these on the Gilco-Cattaneo chassis. A number of this Alpha Romeo-Cattaneo' s became voozien of a carrosserie of Colli, but also Riva has one or two specimens built to a design of Lurani. After this period, Riva stops with the producing of cars to own correct and holds self mainly busy with the repairing and convert of existing carrosserias.
History Time line
1919 Angelo Luigi Colombo is in Milan, in Via Stradella, society AL Colombo: This workshop is produced initially in an artisan metal pipes intended in particular to the frames of the bicycles.
1921 Born Gilberto Colombo, the second son of Angelo.
1928 The A.L. Columbus moved the production plant in the great way Tanzi. And 'now specializes in steel tubes and precision stainless steel for aviation, and bicycle frames. But under the brand name Columbus also produces and sells furniture in the steel tube: in the next decade there will among the major producers of mobile rationalists, drafted by Piero Bottoni and, under license, by Marcel Breuer, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe.
1930 A.L. Colombo realizes, under the brand name Columbus, a special series of stainless steel tubes chrome-molybdenum for frames of bicycles from the competition. The series, consisting of twelve pieces, tubes in high-strength concrete is reinforced, and a thick conical biconico, obtains success in competitions Columbus gaining brand recognition in the international sporting world.
1938 At only 17 years Gilberto Colombo began working with his father for the development of facilities and the construction of special tapered tubes used in aircraft engines. It also of the production of pipes and reinforced the individual components of the series Columbus.
1940 By attending the first years of Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, Gilberto Colombo knows Mario Speluzzi, professor and director of motor sports in the technical, begins to love the design issues in this field. Not yet twenties, designs and builds the house of a family Lierna on Lake Como, in the same period, sailing enthusiast, bought his first Star by Baglietto yards.
1946 In 1946 Gilberto knows Colombo Enzo Ferrari in Modena and begins to apply to the design of its sports cars, in a report that will remain tight collaboration of professional until 1956, and in personal terms remain alive throughout their lives. While it is technical director of A.L. Colombo, Gilberto start in the business of their own design and production of auto chassis, making the production of the father. Inside the A.L. Colombo creates a department called GC automotive applications.
1947 While the GC is continuing its testing activities in 1947 was founded the company GILCO, which is beginning to produce cars with chassis tubes acquired by AT Colombo. The first frame GILCO is made for a reworking of the Maserati Formula 1 racing team of brothers Milan Ruggeri. In May, the Ferrari sporting activity begins with the 125th In autumn begins to run the more powerful 159. In subsequent years following this GILCO growth of activities with quarterly orders for the production of 25-30 frames, with delivery times of about fifteen days for the frame.
1955 A serious accident at the 24 hours of Le Mans, which causes racing to stop for six months, cause problems all over the field of sports cars. The activity of Gilberto Colombo is being increasingly from manufacturing to design.
1958 While the GILCO reduce progressively the production linked to the chassis of the car in competition, Gilberto Colombo continues its work as technical director in the AL Colombo. In the meantime, the idea spread with the frames of the first post-war have now given birth to a new capacity: many developers are in an area that until recently was virtually a monopoly.
1961 Designed by Gilberto Colombo is completed the construction of a second family home in Lierna, the house on the water.
1965 II thirteen-year-old son of Gilberto Colombo, Mark, participate in the first races on the lake with the Star of his father, racing in pairs with David Sigurtà. Here arises the idea of improving the hull of this class building a sample hand.
1966 In 1966 Gilberto Colombo acquires Trafiltubi of Novegro, near Milan, specializing in the production tubes for bicycles, motorcycles and cars. GILCO and Trafiltubi together constitute a special section for the design and testing of steel tubes for high quality, round and with special profiles, designed for more sophisticated applications.
During the same period Gilberto Colombo active Lierna a small boat yard in what will be built "Roberta," the first boat he designed in the Star class. The site will continue its activities until 1975, producing about twenty boats.
1972 Robert II, with crew Mark and David Colombo Sigurtà, won the second place in the Italian championship. The following year he conquered the first place instead.
1975 Robert III, with crew Mark and David Colombo Sigurtà, he won the Italian championship.
1982 For almost the entire decade of the eighties Gilberto Colombo continues to work on design nautica. Among the international statements of boats were born on the project and its development, those of Fools Star yards and Lillia. Among these, the first victory of the World Cup awarded in 1980 by Antonio Gorostegui hull with a Star of Fools.
1983 Trafiltubi GILCO and continue in their cooperation. Gilberto Colombo began designing frames for racing bikes and records. Trafiltubi born within the SAR (Special Applications Division), which produces pipes for frames. In recent years Trafiltubi develop the production, which will provide the best long-Case producing high-end bicycles.
1984 The production of pipes for the frame bicycle for Colnago Master, with four ribs longitudinal stiffness. Meanwhile Gilberto and his son Marco begin studies for the application of technology Trafiltubi tubes for lamps. Trafiltubi producing the special tubes used in the lamp Dove, designed by Marco Colombo in collaboration with M. Barbaglia, very thin but high-strength, besides being of tenants' power.
1985 Studies of Gilberto Colombo to design a bike frame to record oriented approach centered on the rear wheel and lower the position of the handlebars and also to differentiate the section of pipe to ensure lighter. This will bring about the laser project, which will then be made by Cinelli. The studies for the use of tubes in different section in the lead frame MultiShape to Columbus, and the Master tube is used for the frame of a bicycle track. Where the exit: a lamp that will soon become a cult object of the design of those years, with continued success will remain in continuous production since then until now (currently produced by Cassina).
1986 Ten of the first eleven places of the world championships are won Star class boats built by the shipyard and Lillia Folli.
1987 Master the tube is used for the construction of a frame Dual diagonal split.
1988 Gilberto Colombo died just 67 years. Trafiltubi within the tradition of GILCO is meanwhile carefully collected and cataloged in a strictly Historical Archive, whose direction and care are being provided Martino Colombo (enthusiastic "pupil" of Gilberto and cousin Marco Colombo).
1991 Laser cycling is awarded the Golden Compass.
1993 The Historical Archive GILCO promote an exhibition at the European Institute of Design in Milan and held the post of Colombo Gilberto presenting original drawings and prototypes.
1997 In 1997 Trafiltubi obtain quality certification ISO 9000. In recent years, and until 2003, Trafiltubi continues its work guided by the first company workers storiche, then under the supervision of consultants. The policy promoted temporarily put into the background of its original vocation for specialty and high technology, focusing instead aims to increase production quantity.
2003 Trafiltubi obtain quality certification VISION 2000
2004 Marco Colombo (who with Serena Omodeo work already at the University of Architecture Associate), enters into a company with Serena Omodeo taking with her the full management of Trafiltubi. Together launch a new production policy geared to the recovery and enhancement of the historical tradition of the company. Is relaunched the activities of the SAR is born and Gilcootubi, a section which, referring to the traditional design of GILCO, experienced special materials for new applications. It also start testing for new treatments of special materials typical Trafiltubi (as on 15 CDV6) and for drawing up new materials not available in the form of profiles, such as special stainless APX4 and Nanoflex.
2005 At the 2005 World Fair in Paris dell'Aeronautica are presented, in addition to special sections Trafiltubi in 15 CDV6, the first pipes in a special section APX4 born from research GILCO in Trafiltubi. It also initiated the process to approve Trafiltubi according to the strict parameters ASNA. Cycle to the Fair of Milan in 2005 is presented the evolution of the chassis Multishape in 15 CDV6 and the first complete set of tubes in different section APX4 and the frame APX4. Dell'approssimarsi In view of the sixtieth anniversary of the birth of GILCO is established the prize GILCO.
2006 40th anniversary Trafiltubi.
2007 60th anniversary GILCO. Source
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