This is a cyclemotor dating from the dawn of motor cycling. The Bernardi appeared in 1894 and was the first motor cycle ever to run on the roads of Italy.
Enrico Bernardi carried out research into internal combustion engines at the University of Padua where he was Professor of Physics in the late 19th century. He exhibited his first engine in 1884. This was a small engine and was demonstrated powering a sewing machine. By 1889 Bernardi had turned his attention towards motorised vehicles and he started to develop a larger engine for this purpose. This engine was a horizontal single cylinder four-stroke with overhead valves. A hot platinum wire provided ignition. After five years work he had produced his motor cycle.
A problem with these very early machines is defining the dividing line between cyclemotors and cyclemotors, but the Bernardi can be regarded as a true cyclemotor since it pushed a normal bicycle. The engine was mounted on a one wheeled trailer and powered this single wheel via a chain. A universal joint at the front of the trailer connected to a fork made from two curved tubes. The joint allowed the trailer to move up and down, and to pivot, but held it upright. The only modification to the bicycle was the addition of a pair of footboards clamped to the seat tube and down tube. These were needed because the cycle did not have a free wheel so the pedals would be constantly turning when the machine was in motion.
The articulation of the trailer would have made it difficult to control the throttle by means of rods, so Bernardi designed a pneumatic control. The throttle was connected to a large rubber diaphragm in a casing on the engine. From this casing a rubber tube led to a bulb mounted on the handlebars. The throttle would be opened and closed by squeezing and releasing the bulb.
A company, La Società Miari Guisti, was formed to build and sell the cyclemotor and patents were obtained in several countries including Britain. Although the prototype machine was quite successful, being driven on the Italian roads by Enrico's son Lauro, there is some doubt as to whether the company produced any of the machines.
First published - June 1982
