The water bottles, caps, musettes and gloves - 14
ITEM N° 748
"Colnago" water bottle from the 1980s
Bicycle manufacturer since 1954
Vintage ivory-coloured plastic cycling water bottle bearing the historic Colnago emblem. Its monochrome design features the name ‘Cicli Colnago’, the company’s address in Cambiago, near Milan, and the famous club symbol enclosed within a large ‘C’. Its original cap, safety clips and non-slip strips are characteristic of the water bottles used in professional cycling during the 1980s.
Founded in 1954 by Ernesto Colnago, the Italian brand quickly established itself as one of the most prestigious manufacturers in the peloton. Its frames played a part in the achievements of numerous champions, including Gianni Motta, Eddy Merckx, Giuseppe Saronni, Tony Rominger and Franco Ballerini.
The collaboration with Eddy Merckx played a major part in Colnago’s international reputation. In 1972, the manufacturer produced the ultra-light bicycle used by the Belgian champion to set his legendary hour record in Mexico City. During the 1980s, Colnago became closely associated with the Del Tongo team and with Giuseppe Saronni, world champion in 1982 and winner of Milan–San Remo and the Giro d’Italia in 1983.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this water bottle is a valuable testament to Colnago’s presence at the very highest level of competition. Its understated design, patina and iconic logo evoke Italian craftsmanship at its finest and one of the most prestigious histories in bicycle manufacturing.
ITEM N° 749
“Compta France” promotional water bottle
1980s
This promotional can bears the name and logo of Compta France, a French company founded in the early 1980s. Its particularly understated design combines a blue monogram with vertical black lettering reading ‘COMPTA FRANCE’, repeated around the body of the bottle to ensure visibility when mounted on a bicycle.
Made from flexible plastic, it features a wide shoulder, two raised grip strips and a sliding cap fitted with a clip. Its generous and robust shape is typical of the models frequently used in cycling during the 1980s, whether in competitions, training sessions or promotional events.
In the absence of documentation establishing an official partnership between Compta France and a specific team or event, this water bottle should be regarded with caution as a promotional item linked to the cycling world of its time. Its patina, signs of wear and the preservation of its markings now give it genuine documentary value.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this water bottle provides an interesting insight into the role played by companies and promotional items in the cycling culture of the 1980s.
ITEM N° 750
'D'Hauwe-Cooman' water bottle, late 1980s
WSC Merelbeke–Scheldestreek
This promotional water bottle combines the name of the Belgian construction firm D’Hauwe–Cooman, based in Lede, with that of WSC Merelbeke–Scheldestreek, a renowned cycling club in East Flanders. As the company was founded in 1989, the item can probably be dated to the turn of the 1980s and 1990s.
Made of soft white plastic, it has a large grey cap fitted with a blue nozzle and a side clip. Its upper ring, adorned with small raised dots, makes it easy to grip. The inscriptions include the company’s name, its location in Lede, its telephone number and a reference to the club, reflecting advertising support directly linked to regional Belgian cycling.
The WSC Merelbeke–Scheldestreek held a prominent position amongst local cycling teams at the time. Several riders who came through the club went on to pursue careers at the highest level, notably Mario De Clercq, a member of the team in 1989 and 1990 before turning professional and distinguishing himself as a three-time cyclo-cross world champion.
With its patina, signs of wear and still-legible markings, this water bottle serves as a reminder of the vital role played by local businesses in funding and supporting youth development clubs. Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this water bottle is a valuable testament to Belgian amateur cycling and its deep roots in the economic and community life of the late 20th century.
