Bruce,
You make a number of excellent points and I certainly agree
that Signor Masi did not invent the bicycle nor bring it to
America. But I hasten to add that there were a number of
American frame builders active in the years between 1930 and
1959. They are not well known - even on this list - for a
number of reasons. But one important factor is that American
bicycle racing in that era was more focused on track racing of
one form or another. Since the bicycles were looked upon as
little more than tools, frame builders were regarded as little
more than mechanics.
Then, as even this form of racing lost its appeal with the
general public, frame builders became less active and the few
who remained in business continued to lose whatever noteriety
they once had.
But in the few locations where track racing retained some
popularity, I believe that a few noted frame builders remained
active all through the period you mention. I grew up in New
York City and was a spectator at the flat oval in Flushing
Meadow Park and was both a spectator and racer at the Kissena
Park velodrome. I recall seeing a decent number of Drysdale
and Dick Power frames. Not millions - but there were really
only a small number of racers and true enthusiasts at that
point. In any event, I also believe that there were a few
frame builders active in every area in which thre was an active
racing scene.
One sad fact is that nearly all of the old track racing
bicycles have been destroyed. Once bicycle racing lost its
popularity here - and bicycle became mostly children's toys -
there just wasn't the reverence for the old bikes that existed
in elsewhere. Unfortunately, these bikes either were sent to
the scrap heap or rusted away. So no matter how badly I would
like to own a "real" bike from an old American builder (and
believe me, I'd like one), very few are extant.
Well, for whatever it's worth, that's my theory...
Best regards,
Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia
> Claims that US framebuilders are the best begs the question,
"What were
> they doing in the 30s-50s when the French, British and
Italians led the
> way?" Why weren't they producing bikes to take the world by
storm? In
> fact, why, to a non-American CR list member, does it seem as
if there
> were no American framebuilders apart from Schwinn before
Masi moved to
> California? Instead of fixating on modern-day
perfection-this list is,
> after all, supposed to be about old bikes-many US
enthusiasts would, in
> my opinion, do better to celebrate their own framebuilding
heritage.
> Contrary to the impression sometimes given on the list, Mr
Masi didn't
> invent the bicycle.
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