Fun Facts

Pogliaghi workshop at Via Cesare Cesariano 11

In the central section of Milan you will find the small frame-building shop of Santé Pogliaghi...a small unobtrusive shop whose address is Via C. Cesariano 11, but whose entrance faces Vaile Bryon indicated by the "Pogliaghi" painted above the door. (from the book Custom Bicycle by Denise de la Rosa and Michael Kolin)

Francesco Brambilla, frame builder, Milano, Italy

Brambilla was a well known Milanese frame builder dating from the 1920s. Santé Pogliaghi, at age 11 (13?), became an apprentice in Brambilla's shop. After Brambilla died in 1947, Pogliaghi opened his own workshop in Milan.

Emiliano Freschi connection to Pogliaghi

In an 80's Freschi sales flyer it states "Freschi was chief engineer and builder for Pogliaghi for 16 years before opening his own shop." http://classicrendezvous.com/Italy/freschi.htm –I attribute the fastback seat stays to Freschi, and see this as the early mark of when Santé was less involved with building bikes.

Bob Berghino, early importer of Pogliaghi’s to the United States

Giovanni “Bob” Berghino and his wife Gilda came to America in the 20’s to make better lives for themselves. Bob opened a bike shop in the upper west side of Manhattan, and presumably imported Brambilla racing bikes.

Then in the mid 40’s the Berghino’s moved to Southern California. Bob opened a bike shop in Beverly Hills called Bob’s Cycles where he was known as the cities best bikesmith. Bob’s Cycle’s was located at the south east corner of Robertson & Wilshire (it’s now a Bank of America). In the early 60’s Bob Berghino was importing Pogliaghi’s. He added his own decals and called these bikes “Berghino Specials”. It’s interesting that he would leave the “Pogliaghi” down tube decal on the bike (perhaps this was an agreement he had with Santé Pogliaghi). Also of note; Bob Berghino coached some of America’s top racers of the time, including Bob Tetslaff who raced in the 1960 Olympics.