It looks like Lygie was an independent brand from the early 1900's until the mid 1970's, when it was purchased by Atala :
http://answers.yahoo.com/
Apparently, Atala S.p.A. owns/owned quite a portfolio of defunct brands that many consider "classic" such as Galmozzi (the bicycle chicken!), Umberto Dei, Lygie, etc. And has lately been selling them off to "Gruppo Bici N.A.", the Italian Citybike Maker, which is planning to produce a series of reproduction framesets.
http://www.bikemonkey.net/
Gruppo Bici N.A. is also planning to make reproductions framesets for many classic italian brands, with customer supplied graphics, if it can get the rights. Brands that they are negotiating with/for include Bianchi, Coppi, Frejus, Ganna, Giardengo, Gloria and Legnano. They are already doing it for Atala, apparently.
Anyone fancy a modern Atala Giro D'Italia (columbus SL, $1900) rather than a Cinelli Supercorsa ?? Any color you want, as long as it's grey/silver/white-ish....
- Don "surfing a little bit" Gillies San Diego, CA, USa