DISRAELI GEARS
FiR stands for 'Fabbrica Italiana Ruote' (which might translate as 'Italian Wheel Factory'). The company was set up in Bergamo in 1956 by the Arrigoni brothers. As it name suggests, it specialized in the manufacture of bicycle rims and, later, complete bicycle wheels, especially wheels of the 'aero' persuasion. FiR claims to be the first cycle-related company to have used carbon-fibre - in its Aru wheel in 1980.
FiR has a place on this web site because, during the melt down of the European cycle industry in the 1980s and early 1990s, it briefly sought to fortify its position by diversifying and offering a wider range of components. The FiR derailleur story might include the following plot lines:
Even FiR wheels and rims disappeared from the market in 2005, but were resuscitated in 2012 and the company still seems to be in business.
see also US Trademark # 1,414,889 - FiR 1983
see also US Trademark # 1,414,889 - FiR 1983
see also La Bicicletta 1984 Apr - FiR ad
see also La Bicicletta 1984 Apr - FiR ad
see also La Bicicletta Guida '85/86 - FiR adorial 1985
see also La Bicicletta Guida '85/86 - FiR adorial 1985
see also La Bicicletta Guida '85/86 - I componenti da corsa 1985
see also La Bicicletta Guida '85/86 - I componenti da corsa 1985
see also US Trademark # 1,574,725 - FiR 1988
see also US Trademark # 1,574,725 - FiR 1988
see also Bicisport 1988 May - FiR ad
see also Bicisport 1988 May - FiR ad
see also Bicisport 1989 Apr - FiR ad
see also Bicisport 1989 Apr - FiR ad
FiR leaflet 1989?
FiR leaflet 1989?
see also Bicisport 1990 Apr - FiR ad
see also Bicisport 1990 Apr - FiR ad
see also Bicisport 1992 Mar - FiR ad
see also Bicisport 1992 Mar - FiR ad
see also Bicisport 1993 Jul - FiR ad
see also Bicisport 1993 Jul - FiR ad
see also Bicisport 1993 Jul - Scapin Ks Elegant
see also Bicisport 1993 Jul - Scapin Ks Elegant
see also La Bicicletta Guida 99 - Componenti 1999
see also La Bicicletta Guida 99 - Componenti 1999