Richie,
I'm aquainted with those details. I also have three Masis, all with original paint and decals. Fortunately, all of mine are from different eras. Two are Specials, one is a 1971 GC exactly like your three, except mine is just about unridden and has every part that was original to the bike except the FW that the original owner had installed upon purchase; being an older gentleman he required a FW with a little lower gear.
My 1969(?) Special is an interesting case, for example. It looks exactly like the GC you describe with only two exceptions. It has the headbadge and it has Masi Special decals on it, almost! I do knw a little history about this bike. It was purchased directly from Masi from here in the US. It could be and was done by many people in the know at the time. The bike belonged to a young racer from Laguna Beach, CA. He rode the bike about 6 mos. when apparently the steerer for the fork broke right where the threads ended. He has some welder try to reweld it but it did not work long. He sent the bike back to Italy for repair. They tell me the bike was gone for about 1 1/2 years. What I have now is the bike he got back. I don't know if it is the same color as it was originally, I suspect probably yes. The unusual thing about this frame is that it is a Special, says so and is badged so, BUT it has the seat tube bands that were introduced in late '69 or early '70 listing the dates of world professional road champion 1967-69, 1968-69. I have no doubt this frame was built before those decals were made, and yet there it is, factory paint and decals. The chainstay decals are the Brev. Masi as opposed to the "Brevatatta" decal which was probably on the original bike. Also, the seat tube badge decal is an older Masi special decal than the one that was original. If perchance only the fork was repainted (possible but not probable) then this frame would be quite unusual. The reason I think the whole bike was repainted in addition to the decals on it, is because there is also a small "3" stamped on the frame and fork. I think this is how frames in for repair or repaint were kept seperate from new frames and also kept the frame and fork together. Just a theory, but I've seen that on one other Masi.
Hummmm. Can't conceed if the investigation isn't going any deeper. I remain respectfully unconvinced. Also knowing what a stickler Faliero was about details, what his frames are supposed to look like and whatnot, I really don't think they mixed the two. It just isn't like Masi of the time. Faliero was very specific as to EXACTY where each decal was to be placed on each frame. He would not tolerate any variation while he was there for sure. I really doubt that he allowed mixing the two models up for a while. That's not the Faliero I knew.
I still want more. No worries if it's not forthcomming. Certainly another example will show up somewhere..........or will it?
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
What exactly is a "big boo", anyway? Happy horizontal, Richie. Sweet
dreams.
>
> B2
> that's a loooong note. and i'm going horizontal as soon
> as i wash my laughing gear, but re the frame i mentioned:
> don't confuse it with the one alluded to in your story here where
> pj meets that masi owner. i cited what i cited because the
> 1970 GC with the flat caps had 1) the same decals as my
> three, 2) the fisher crown with the tangs, sans holes, 3) the
> same very-large chainstay bridge lugs, 4) the same bb cutout,
> that is, not an 'M' but the urinal looking thingy holes, and 5)
> an invoice from sr masi dated 1970. it had never been repainted.
> withe exception of the seatstay caps it was identical to
> my three frames. (i only keep mentioning that i have THREE
> because i know mike carney is reading this and it twists his
> knickers when i bring this stuff up...).
> the pics are enough for me. the owner is an acquaintance not
> a friend so i wouldn't impose on his privacy.
> done.
> e-RICHIE
> serving myself up again.
> chester, ct
>
> Brian Baylis <rocklube@adnc.com> writes:
> Richie,
>
> DUDE! You know I want to see THOSE! I hope there are some detail shots.
> I wonder if there is a date stamped on the steerer like I've seen on
> every Italian GC I've seen thus far that was Italian made. The earliest
> GC I've seen personally, happens to belong to Ken Denny and is dated "8,
> 69". It has fluted caps. The latest date I've seen is the GC Chuck has
> dated "6, 73". Inspection inside the headtube of the bike you cite might
> tell us something also, as Specials were fitted with a headbadge which
> requires holes for the rivits. I would expect also that the lugs were
> DuBois and it has oval chainstays and the Brev. Masi decal on the
> chainstays. Like I said, I'm open to the possibility; but before I roll
> over I would have to see a lot of details. Hopefully the owner will
> indulge us? It would be a first for me.
>
> One reason I'm not ready to accept the documents and the word of the
> owner just yet is because just yesterday Peter Johnson told me a VERY
> funny story. He told me about a ride he went on recently where he was
> riding his 1970 Masi GC and some other rider rolled up along side him
> and began to chat with Peter. The other person, too was riding a Masi.
> As the conversation turned to the age of Peters' bike, the other person,
> upon hearing Peters' bike was a 1970, responded that his Masi was built
> in 1957! Really? As Peter looked down at the bike the first thing he
> noticed was the IC fork crown cast with the Masi crest in it. His eyes
> rolled back in his head until they bumped into his brain. Obviously this
> person is mistaken. That crown does not appear until the late 70's at
> the very earliest. Sometimes people don't know exactly what they have.
> Most want to believe what they have is something special. Your frined
> may have just that; I don't know. It may be special because it would be
> the first of its' kind that I've ever seen or heard of. THAT is special.
> It may be a special that was decaled as a GC from the factory, VERY
> special also. No doubt there is an explaination for it, and I for one
> would be very curious to know for sure. I have really learned a lot
> about Masis in the past 7 or 8 years. I'm open for more. Do you suppose
> your friend might be willing to allow us to inspect it at close range so
> we can be sure? Many consider me somewhat an authority on Masis, I want
> to know as much as possible, and I want all of it to be factual and
> true. Personally, I would be very grateful to your friend.
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA