Raoul,
Here you go:
The first Masis made in CA were a "batch " of twenty-five 57cm frames. They had a unique serial system that was abandoned on the next batch. The first 25 frames have "1Sxx" , xx representing a number between 01 and 25. They began setting up the operation in about June 1973 and the first frames were being finished by about October of 1973.
The last frame built at the original location (6106 Avenida Encinas, Carlsbad) would have been sometime very late in 1977 or early 1978 I believe. The operation was moved to 310 Cribbage Ln. in San Marcos, CA.
I worked at Masi in the original location twice. The first time was from Nov. 1973 to some time in mid 1974. I built Wizard frames with Mike Howard for two years and then we returned to Masi in mid 1976 after Mario and the others had been let go. I worked there until the Carlsbad shop closed and Mike Howard and Gian Somonetti went to LA to work for Bill Recht/Medici Bicycle Co.
I don't know exactly when Mario built the first Confente labled frame in CA, but it would have been late in 1975 or very early 1976.
Mario passed away on April 9, 1979 if I'm not mistaken. If that's not the exact date (could have been the date of the funeral) then it is very near there.
Mario built a total of 135 frames with his name on them here in CA. 85 were built in LA, 50 were built in Monterey, CA. Only 11 track frames were built from what I hear. I have frame number 24 from LA; a 60 cm fixed gear road/track frame. I have heard tales of Mario built frames from Italy. Supposedly the graphics were applied using a metal stencil, simular to the way older Legnanos are done. Haven't seen any proof of that personally; but I believe there is some truth to the rumors.
Hope that does the trick for you, Raoul. Like you say, someone has to record this information for future bike geeks.
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA
Raoul Delmare wrote:
> Hey Brian ,
>
> ( and perhaps other experts also )
>
> Speaking of recording things for history , could you set the record straight with answers to a very few quick questions ?
>
> When did Masi build their first bicycle in California ?
>
> When did the last bicycle get built in that first location ?
>
> Exactly when did Mr. Brian Baylis work there ?
>
> When did Mario Confente build his first bicycle ( in the U.S.A. ) to carry the Confente name ?
>
> When did Mario Confente die ?
>
> Exactly how many Confente bicycles do we believe were made ?
>
> Hey seriously , thanks .
>
> And thanks to Brian for so very many historical documents . If somebody doesn't write them down , they will certainly be partially , or completely , lost .
>
> Raoul Delmare
> Marysville Kansas