Albino Protti was born in 1910 in Bergantino. He didn’t want to work in the family bakery and at the age of 14 went to Milan to train as a mechanic. Apprenticed to the kindly Matteo, Albino learnt his trade with an application to detail and great perfectionism. After his apprenticeship he returned to Bergantino where he opened a small workshop under the hayloft at the back of the family home. Here he repaired bicycles and the few motorcars around at the time. He was a great innovator. In his spare time he designed and built improved bicycles. One of these was the Cyclewheel – a very imaginative if impractical invention ! Over the next few years Albino was to develop his imagination further turning his skills to the construction of fairground rides. His first great success was the Air Ride built in 1939. Looking at the Cyclewheel the imagination and commitment of this pioneering ride constructor is clear. Heath Robinson eat your heart out !