Re: [CR]Masi questions

(Example: Framebuilding:Brazing Technique)

Date: Fri, 07 Mar 2003 06:49:26 -0800
From: "Brian Baylis" <rocklube@adnc.com>
To: Dennis Young <mail@woodworkingboy.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Masi questions
References: <BA8DE1DC.1B02%mail@woodworkingboy.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Dennis,

Not exactly easy questions to get a positive answer to without extensive text. I can tell a few things, but undoubtedly there is more.

1)To say that Faliero "started" the Carlsbad operation isn't exactly correct from my perspective. Yes, the rights to use the name was purchased ($175,000!) is the number I have heard many times; but Faliero was probably more accurately a consultant. Technically, Roland Sahm started the California version. Faliero did insist that things be set up pretty much like it would have been in Italy. Faliero was "retired" from what I understand, he was about 65 in 1973 and I believe Alberto was driving the boat full time in Italy. The CA operation benifited Faliero tremendously but took quite a chunk out of Albertos behind, apprently causing a bit of a rift between the two. I don't think Faliero had built anything in Italy for quite a while before the CA thing started and probably acted more as a figurehead when back in Italy.

2) As we are beginning to see, especially as time went on, there may be some "transition" frames as early as 1969 or so. Generally Masi only produced one model at a time but I wouldn't be surprised if there is NOT a clean cutoff between Masi GC's built in Italy post 1973 and the introduction of the Prestige. I think there is some uncertainty as to exactly when the Prestige and the 3V appeared. So the answer is somewhere in the neighborhood of "I don't know" and "maybe" as far as I know.

3) There are undoubtedly many small details that a supersensitive eye might catch, but far too difficult to explain. Most are case by case assesments that have to leave a little leeway because there are graphic changes that disappear as soon as the bike gets repainted and so on. With bikes that are original paint and decals it is much easier; but generally speaking the CA GC's are more crisp in the workmanship than the Italian counterpart of the same period. Better paint is also typical of a CA Masi. If all three bikes were presented at once, I could point out lots of subtle details. The bikes are consistant to some degree so it would not neccessirily be easy to tell the difference by the untrained eye. And still the comparisons might only be relevant to the three bikes in question.

Clear as mud? Good. That's sort of the way it is. Short on time today, so that's the best I can do now without 3 bikes in specific.

Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA
>
> A couple Masi questions came to mind. Can someone possibly help me out with
> these. Thanks very much.
>
> 1. After Faliero started the California operation, then returned to Italy
> and apparently was only visiting from time to time, was he still making
> bikes himself in the old country?
>
> 2. After Alberto started producing his Prestige model, did he still make
> the Gran Criterium?
>
> 3. If you had in front of you three Gran Criteriums, one by Faliero, one by
> Alberto, and one by the California shop, what would be the main
> distinguishing features that might best enable you to differentiate between
> them?
>
> Dennis Young
> Hotaka, Japan