OK guys & gals , here's my synapse squeaking into activity.
In the '60's I remember the story being that several ships with Girardengo /
Champion Of The World bicycles were turned away at the harbor because they
were supposed/actually having been built by forced labor, which would have
been against our law(s).
Now we all know that in many of the European countries there were hundreds
of bike builders of all size production capacity like in the US back in the
1890's.
What's a prison supposed to do? Maybe rehabilitate prisoners?
Making bicycle frames and forks would be a reasonable attempt to teach
people a useful trade?
That's the story we heard thru the grapevine.
Why not boycott liscense plates?
Anyhow, prisoners of war?
Sorry, fellow listers, I don't think ant WW2 POW's were extant at that late
date. Back to the time capsule kiddies.
That was the same era that some of the clever importers were bringing in
complete bicycles and having them shipped with jersey, spare tire, helmet,
gloves, shorts, shoes, and being declared as a complete kit to get around
import laws and duties.
The scalawags removed the "kit" and sold them separately and just happened
to be able to eke out a little "extra" shall we say of hard earned deserved
remuneration.
But those nice people still weren't happy. Too bad.
The parole board rests.
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA
> Regarding Barrie Carter's request for info on prisoners building
> Girardengo bicycles,
>
> see mention on
>
> http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
>
>
>
> Peter Brueggeman
> La Jolla California USA
> 4peebee(at)peterbrueggeman.com