I think that at least one brand of Italian components (Balilla maybe?) had a name that was connected to some Italian Fascist organization or other. And some allege that the knight on the old brass Legnano headbadge bears a suspicious resemblance to Mussolini.
And there are no doubt models by dozens of British manufacturers named "Clubman" that the PC weenies would now want named "Clubperson".
It's all enough to give a man - sorry, make that give a person - indigestion.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX
Jerry Prigmore <robinjer@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 21:12:10 +0000 (GMT)
>From: gholl(AT)optonline.net
>Subject: Re: [CR]Sauvage-Lejeune, the anti-Cinelli
>
>In fact I believe you are right, I've also heard that African Americans
>do collect "this sort of thing." Furthermore, I understand that even
>Holocaust museums collect Nazi items, for ambiance, I suppose. I have
>taken the liberty of forwarding your link to this Sambo-bike to the
>collector you have indicated. Slave collars I'm sure are dime-a-dozen but
>a nice racist bike must be a real rarity. I'm sure he'll want to add it
>to his collection (even if it has a bit of bondo).
>Best regards, George Hollenberg MD
>CT, USA
>
Dear Dr. Hollenberg:
Being new to the classic bike hobby, I'm now more than a little concerned. Are there any other racist bikes out there I should look out for? And how does one tell? Are there clues aside from the headbadge? And can a racist bike be reformed by removing it's headbadge, or is the bike permeated with racisim and thus worthy only of consignment to the scrap heap? I don't think the Italvega I just bought is racist, but then again, there is that connection of Italian bikes to the Fascists. And then there's my Japanese bikes, which have probably never been accused of being racially sensitive. At least I don't own any really old bikes with depictions of naked women.
Jeez, I think I need an aspirin.
Jerry G. Prigmore, P.E. Clovis, California, USA.
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