The history of AGV helmets at Valenza

Have you ever wondered what helmet manufacturer’s AGV name actually stands for? It’s the acronym for Amisano Gino Valenza.

Gino Amisano was the founder of AGV helmets and he started his company just after the Second World War in 1946, in the town of Valenza in the Piedmont region in Italy.

Amisano died three years ago and the city of Valenza will be holding a special exhibition in collaboration with his heirs and Dainese, (who bought the company in 2007) to pay tribute to the man who started making helmets in basement, to later become one the most important helmet manufacturers in the world and his lids would protect the heads of legendary riders like Giacomo Agostini, Kenny Roberts and Valentino Rossi.

AGV started with just one employee producing bicycle helmets and seats for Vespas and Lambrettas, but in 1947 began making handmade motorcycle helmets from leather and cowhide and manufacturering just five a week, but his business began to slowly take off with the production of the first fiberglass lid in 1954, and Amisano would become known as the ‘King of Helmet Makers’.

AGV’s story will be told through a series of vintage photographs along with the helmets belonging to the dozens of champions who donned this extraordinary brand, and will be on dispay at the Valentino Palace in Valenza from December 16 to January 13, 2013.

The inauguration will be held at the Social Theatre of Valencia, with a meeting entitled “I remember when Gino …” with stories, anecdotes from people who knew and worked with “Ginetto”, who was also funded Dr. Claudio Costa’s first Clinica Mobile, but he also owned a vineyard and was President of the Alessandria Football Club.

with Twowheelsblog