In the early 1900s in Bologna there was great fervour in the electronics sector. Guglielmo Marconi was acclaimed throughout the world for the invention of radiotelegraphy. So Ducati started its journey with the radio. Adriano Cavalieri Ducati patented a short-wave transmitter, with which he could connect with the United States. Together with his brothers Bruno and Marcello, on this day in 1926 they constituted Società Scientifica Radio Brevetti Ducati. The company produced the small Manens capacitor, assembled in a residence with two workers and a secretary.
in 10 years, Ducati provided work to thousands of workers and inaugurated the big facility in Borgo Panigale. During the Second World War, however, the plant became the target of Allied bombardments, which destroyed it on 12th October 1944. From its rubble would commence the conversion into a motorcycle manufacturer and the new Ducati era.
Post-war Italy sought a fresh start and one of the most urgent needs was mobility. Transportation was essential in order to further the economic recovery of the nation after years of conflict. The reconstruction of the Borgo Panigale factory represented an opportunity that Ducati exploited in order to relaunch its activities. The electro-technical department was partly converted to operate in a new sector and, in 1946, the first auxiliary engine for bicycles was developed.
At first, the engines were sold for use with any bicycle. Soon, enterprising businessmen started buying them in bulk to sell complete motorised bicycles and Ducati began producing their own version.
The first Ducati motorcycle was a 48cc bike weighing 44kg (98 lb), with a top speed of 40mph (64 km/h), and had a 15 mm carburetor giving just under 240 mpg (200 mpg‑US or 1.2 L/100 km)
They’ve come a long way, but they’re still red.
