DC

DC Motorcycle See, on the rear wheel, the brake “a cerchietto” (maybe they are an in-between a disk brake and a rim brake, with a calliper acting on the auxiliary “cerchietto” (small circle, in Italian) (picture from the Benelli site, from their museum collection)

1923 - 1928

In 1923 Vittorio Conti and his long time friend Tullio De Stefani opened a workshop in the industrial area of a Tolentino (MC, Marche). Here, with the help of a single employee, they assembled a moped using an old Faini engine, after having modified it for their needs. The motor, found in an old warehouse was a 2-stroke single cylinder, 125 cc, with a 53 x 56 mm bore and stroke, “Eisemann” magneto, “Longuemare” carburetor, and a two speed gearbox, rear brake, chain drive and 26" x 2” wheels.

With this motor-bike in July 20, 1924, Vittorio Conti is on the starting line of the Tolentino Station Racetrack, this being the first of the many competitions he would run until 1932. Thanks to his several wins, he got noticed by the Fratelli Faini company, from Lecco, (Lombardy) and became their distributor for Marche and Abruzzi (two neighboring regions in the center of Italy). In 1926 the two friends decided to go back to their first dream and opened the “Fabbrica Italiana Ciclomotori D & C”. (initials of theirs names). They introduced on the market their MD3 moped (price 4.000 It. Liras) and the sidecar “Touring” motorcycle (price 6.000 It. Liras). Vittorio Conti would again bring attention and fame on the brand winning several competitions.

The technical characteristics of the two models are almost identical:

- twin cylinder, two stroke, 125 cc engine “Della Ferrera”, bore and stroke mm 36 x 60, Aluminium head, steel piston, flywheels and camshaft mounted on roller bearings, “Bosh” toughened magneto, “Gurtner” carburetor, Druid type fork, two-speed gearbox without clutch, fuel/oil mix 10-12%, drum brake on rear wheel only, chain drive, wheels 26" x 2”.

In 1927 other three new light motor-bike were added to the previous two models; the Baby, Balloon and KKS.

1. Babymodel , with step-through frame, for ladies and clergyman (they both wore long vest, at that time – translator’s note) with twin cylinder, two-stroke 125 cc “Della Ferrera” engine, bore and stroke mm 36 x 60, max power 3 HP, “Bosh” toughened magneto, “Gurtner” carburetor, Druid type fork, two-speed gearbox without clutch, fuel/oil mix 10-12%, brake on rear wheel only, chain drive, wheels 26" x 2”, or optional extra 25" x 3", price 4,100 It. Liras. 2. Balloon model, with same engine and same general features, but for the fork, Druid type with shock absorbers, wheels 25" x 3", price 4,900 It. Liras. 3. KSS (Super Sport) model , always with the same dependable and time tested “Della Ferrera” engine, but fitted with twin exhaust, two barrel carburetor and fitted with Druid type fork, with shock absorbers, and drum brakes on both wheels; price 4,900 It. Liras.

At the end of 1928 Vittorio Conti buys out Tullio De Stefani shares and starts producing the same models with the “Conti” brand name and logo.

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