The Lino and Antonio Gastaldello brothers had heard of Wilier Triestina since they were kids. They loved its legend and felt proud of belonging to the land where it had prospered.
They lived in Rossano Veneto, less than ten kilometres from Bassano. Their father, Giovanni, had worked for years for Dal Molin and at home everyone knew what to do when it came to bicycles.
After 17 years of complete disuse, in 1969 the factory in via Colomba was taken over by the Giacetti brothers from Bassano and by Giovanni Longon, a Venetian bicycle salesman.
The property still contained a host of machinery and material to build bicycles as well as coffee machines and burners: the desolate remains of the last attempts to put the factory back on track.
Longon proposed Lino and Antonio Gastaldello to buy the brand. They had the skills, knew what to do and were very enthusiastic. The price was a million lire.
It was not only about buying a business, rather taking on a challenge, a difficult and hazardous gamble, to give a dead brand life once again after it had shone so brightly.
Putting life back in a legend would take a lot of work and all their courage.
The Gastaldellos accepted it and the new era of Wilier Triestina was started. All the material that was not necessary to build bicycles was sold and production was moved to via Stazione in Rossano, where the Gastaldellos lived and already worked.
The first frames, made completely of stainless steel, were painted in various colours to accommodate market demands, then the decision was taken to restore the original copper shade. Several employees were hired, though no salesman. Sales were made in northern Italy only, especially in the Triveneto regions, and in first place in Trieste.