Sorry to chime in but I would suggest that for some folks the Cinelli bars are perfectly appropriate. Right time period, they were certainly used in some instances on Masis both by buyers of frames and by Masi on complete bikes, and they are excellent and beautiful handlebars. That said, the TTT bars are seemingly rarer and with the Masi logo more specifically associated with the marque than the Cinellis which were obviously used on all kinds of bikes, so for some owners having the TTT bars is definitely a very nice added touch. Particularly for those who while they definitely appreciate the Cinellis find themselves having the good fortune to own several nice bikes from this time period and would prefer to not have them all kitted out the same.
Edward Robert Brooks Managing Director Edward Roberts International Auctioneers of the Fine and Rare 1262 West Winwood Drive Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 Phone- 847.295.8696 Facsimile- 847.295.8697 Email- ebrooks@eriwine.com Website- http://www.eriwine.com
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of David Patrick Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 11:13 AM To: BobHoveyGa@aol.com; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Ssssspeedster's Masi & Proper Twin Plate Resto
So Bob, is it your contention that proper twin-plate Masi restoration requires engraved Masi 3t bars? I guess that's were this started off, so what's your take?
Dave Patrick Chelsea, Michigan
BobHoveyGa@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 12/12/05 11:17:44 AM, patrick-ajdb@sbcglobal.net writes:
Bob,
I am basing my comments about Masi frames being for sale by my own experience, as I saw individual Masi GC frames for sale back in '73-'75. The Turin shop in Chicago had them for sale. Now, maybe the majority of Masis sold were complete bikes, I dont' know, but my comments relate directly to your statement about "a proper twin-plate restoration" needing Masi 3t bars, which I feel just isn't so. That's the focus of my argument.
In making your point about complete bikes being sold, you're using the example of California Carlsbad Masi bikes, but then you go on to use Italian Masis as a reference point for the use of the Masi engraved 3T handlebars. I guess it would be my contention that more Italian-built Masi bikes were sold as bare framesets, and they did make there way to the U.S., and that the Carlsbad Masis were sold more as complete bikes. That said, Brian Baylis stated earlier today that Cinelli bars & stem were by far the more prominent combo used on Carlsbad Masi bikes.
Dave Patrick
Chelsea, Michigan
As I said, I was only referring to Italian bikes in my original message (as I was in the second message also... my reference to Carlsbad bikes in the second message was parenthetical).
Up intil 1973, quite a few Italian Masis made their way into the US through shops such as the one you mentioned. I would not argue that quite a few of them would have been bare frames. But by 1974, the Italian bikes coming into the US were very few in number due to Faliero's exclusive distribution deal with Roland Sahm in 1973. I believe that the majority of 1974 GC's sold by Alberto in Europe were complete bikes.
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA