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{{Short description|Italian businessman (1888–1972)}}
'''Adolfo Orsi''' (1888 – December 20, 1972) was an Italian industrialist, known for owning the [[Maserati]] automobile maker.▼
{{Infobox person
| image = 1940s Adolfo Orsi and Maserati people.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Adolfo Orsi at Maserati, c. 1950
| birth_name = Adolfo Orsi
| birth_date = {{birth date|1888|3|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Modena]], [[Kingdom of Italy]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1972|12|20|1888|3|23|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Modena]], [[Italy]]
| occupation = Industrialist
| years_active= 1937–1968
| nationality = Italian
| children = Omar Orsi
| signature =
}}▼
 
▲'''Adolfo Orsi''' (23 March 1888 – December 20, December 1972) was an Italian industrialist, known for owning the [[Maserati]] automobile maker.
Coming from a poor family from San Lazzaro, near [[Modena]], he lost his father in 1899. Later he created a successful business in the [[scrap iron]], [[steel mill]] and [[farm equipment]] manufacturing area, employing several thousands in Modena and surrounding towns, as of the late 1920s.<ref>[http://auto.howstuffworks.com/ferrari-biographies5.htm Adolfo Orsi and Ferrucio Lamborghini] from howstuffworks.com</ref> His interests also included running the [[tram|trolley]] company of Modena, and being involved with the local soccer team, [[Modena F.C.]] in its successful early years.<ref>[http://www.oldracingcars.com/teamboss/Adolfo_Orsi Where are they now?] from oldracingcars.com</ref><ref>[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Officine-Alfieri-Maserati-SpA-Company-History.html Officine Alfieri Maserati Spa history] from fundinguniverse.com</ref>▼
 
▲ComingBorn fromwithin a poor family fromin San LazzaroSant'Agnese, near [[Modena]], heOrsi lost his father in 1899. Later- hean createdevent that forced him to start working at a successfulvery businessyoung inage. In the late 1920s he started his own business as [[scrap iron]], [[steel mill]] and [[farm equipment]] manufacturingmanufacturer, area,eventually employing severalhundreds thousandsof inpeople from Modena and surrounding towns, as of the latesurrounding 1920sarea.<ref>[http://auto.howstuffworks.com/ferrari-biographies5.htm Adolfo Orsi and Ferrucio Lamborghini] from howstuffworks.com</ref> HisOrsi soon started pursuing interests alsooutside of the company, includedincluding running the [[tram|trolley]] company of Modena, and being involved with the local soccer team, [[Modena F.C.]] in its successful early years.<ref>[http://www.oldracingcars.com/teamboss/Adolfo_Orsi Where are they now?] from oldracingcars.com</ref><ref>[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Officine-Alfieri-Maserati-SpA-Company-History.html Officine Alfieri Maserati Spa history] from fundinguniverse.com</ref> With his brother, Marcello, he was also involved in a [[Fiat]] dealership, the ''Fiat A.M. Orsi'' (1935).<ref>[http://www.motorvalley.it/personaggi_dettaglio.asp?idpa=1549&idd=3&categoria=Automobilismo La Maserati prima, durante e dopo Adolfo Orsi] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930020638/http://www.motorvalley.it/personaggi_dettaglio.asp?idpa=1549&idd=3&categoria=Automobilismo |date=September 30, 2007 }} from motorvalley.it</ref>
With his brother, Marcello, he was involved in a [[Fiat]] dealership, the ''Fiat A.M. Orsi'' (1935).<ref>[http://www.motorvalley.it/personaggi_dettaglio.asp?idpa=1549&idd=3&categoria=Automobilismo La Maserati prima, durante e dopo Adolfo Orsi] from motorvalley.it</ref>
He bought the financially troubled [[Maserati]] company in 1937, employing his son, Omar Orsi as managing director (1937); three of the [[Maserati Brothers]] were retained on ten-year contracts on the engineering team (1937–47).▼
Orsi moved operations from [[Bologna]] to Modena (1940), near his steel plants (the ''Fonderie Riunite''), for automobile as well as spark plug manufacturing. Orsi hired his brother in-law Alceste Giacomazzi, as new general director, and
succeeded in bringing [[Ferrari]] employee [[Alberto Massimino]] over to Maserati (1944–52), as well as hiring the Argentine driver ace [[Juan Manuel Fangio]] (1953).
 
==Maserati==
Orsi faced trouble, evident as Maserati was temporarily closed for restructuring (1949), and also from steel mill workers' [[strike action]] against Orsi, who refused to hire [[communist]]s, leaving numerous dead (June 9, 1950).<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,858566,00.html Red fog] from ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (January 23, 1950)</ref> The foundries were reopened, but sold off (1952), and
▲HeIn 1937 Orsi bought the financially troubled [[Maserati]] company in 1937, employing his son, Omar Orsi, as managing director (1937); three of the [[Maserati Brothers]] were retained on ten-year contracts on the engineering team (1937–47). In 1940 Orsi moved the Maserati headquarters from [[Bologna]] to Modena, near the premises of his steel plants and spark plug manufacturing company, ''Fonderie Riunite''.
the family empire split among the siblings (1953). Adolfo kept the Maserati car manufacturing business, his brother Marcello was already involved in the foundries, and sister Ida Orsi took charge of the [[Maserati (motorcycle)|motorbike manufacturing]] (the ''Società Anonima Fabbrica Candele Accumulatori Maserati'', 1953–60).
In 1949, with Maserati temporarily closed for restructuring, a steel mill workers' [[strike action]] following Orsi's refusal to hire [[communist]] workers resulted in a series of hard encounters on 9 June 1950, leaving a few protesters dead.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110131133554/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,858566,00.html Red fog] from ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (January 23, 1950)</ref> When the foundries were reopened in 1952, Orsi decided to sell the company, splitting it with his siblings. Adolfo kept the Maserati car manufacturing business, his brother Marcello kept the foundries, and their sister Ida Orsi took charge of the [[Maserati (motorcycle)|motorbike manufacturing]] (the ''Società Anonima Fabbrica Candele Accumulatori Maserati'', 1953–60).
 
The 1950s proved to be a successful decade for Maserati. Orsi hired his brother in-law Alceste Giacomazzi as new general director, and succeeded in luring [[Ferrari]] employee [[Alberto Massimino]] to Maserati (1944–52), as well as hiring the Argentine driver ace [[Juan Manuel Fangio]] (1953). Fangio went on to win the [[Formula One]] World Championship for Maserati in 1954 and 1957.
Orsi accepted a deal with [[Argentina]], as president and motor racing supporter [[Juan Perón]], placed one large order with Orsi for machine tooling (1954). Due to [[Revolución Libertadora]] and the exile of Perón, receiving payments for the order was problematic, as they were for a similar deal with the Spanish government. The financial problems resulted in Maserati being placed under controlled management.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,864296,00.html?promoid=googlep Maserati off the track] from ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (April 14, 1958)</ref> The remnants of [[Maserati]] was handled by the creditor, [[Credito Italiano]].▼
 
▲In 1954 Orsi acceptedmade a lucrative deal with [[ArgentinaJuan Perón]], aswhen president andthe motor racing supporterenthusiast president of [[Juan PerónArgentina]], placed onea large order with Orsi for machine toolingtools (1954)to be imported in his country. DueHowever, tofollowing the [[Revolución Libertadora]] and the exile of Perón, receiving payments for the order wasturned problematic,out asto theybe wereproblematic. forOrsi aencountered similar dealissues with the Spanish government., and the Theensuing financial problems resulted in Maserati beingentering placed under controlled managementadministration.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930102425/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,864296,00.html?promoid=googlep Maserati off the track] from ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (April 14, 1958)</ref> The remnants of [[Maserati]] was handled by the creditor, [[Credito Italiano]].
Orsi remained in active management of Maserati until 1968, when Orsi decided to sell the balance of his interest in Maserati to Citroen whom had earlier purchased a major holding in Maserati in anticipation of a motor contract for the Citroen SM<ref>[http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=258&alph=All&dec=All cartype.com]</ref>
 
Orsi remained active within the management of Maserati until 1968, when he decided to sell his remaining shares to [[Citroën]], who at the time was a major stakeholder.<ref>[http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=258&alph=All&dec=All cartype.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927010754/http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=258&alph=All&dec=All |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>
Omar's son is Adolfo Orsi, Jr. (born 1951), is still involved consulting on the history of Maserati.▼
 
▲Omar Orsi's son is, Adolfo Orsi, Jr. (born 1951), is still involved consultingas consultant on the history of Maserati.
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}
 
{{authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
 
| NAME = Orsi, Adolfo
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1888
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = December 20, 1972
| PLACE OF DEATH =
▲}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orsi, Adolfo}}
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1972 deaths]]
[[Category:People from the Province of Modena]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Maserati people]]
 
[[Category:Formula One team owners]]
[[it:Adolfo Orsi]]
[[Category:Italian automotive pioneers]]
[[Category:Italian motorsport people]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolfo_Orsi"