In a message dated 1/14/2006 12:38:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, Steven writes:
Does anybody want to comment on this Masi frame that is presently on ebay?
M55 designation, odd fork crown, second bottle braze-ons on seat tube, top tube braze-ons. Any guesses as to year of manufacture and what all might have been changed on it?
Steven Maasland Moorestown, NJ
Steven,
The frame looks like an early 70's (but possibly as late as '74 or even '75) Italian GC judging by the triangular cutout on the downtube tang of the BB, the long dropouts and the fluted seat stay ends. Wish that the BB photo was clearer so I could see the stamp and the exact contour of the triangle (earlier bikes looked hand cut and varied a lot, but some 74-75 bikes had triangles that looked like they used the die that punched the lower head lug window). It's been repainted of course... shifter brazeons might be original (appeared around 74), same for the TT guides (appeared around '75) and the ST bottle bosses almost certainly are not original (apparently Alberto was not fond of these... first set I've seen that I know for sure are original are 1988 I think). The fork appears to be an 80's replacement, with the triangular window on the shoulder it looks a bit like some of the Nuova Strada or Gran Corsa forks, but it could be just about anything really.
No way I'd buy this bike without seeing it in person... the replacement fork indicates a crash and I'd definitely want to check out the head lug area of the frame for damage.
Bob Hovey
Columbus GA