Matthew,
If the fire was hot enough to melt those cranks, chances are the frame tubes have been overheated and lost their temper. The lug brazing looks okay, but I would be hesitant to ride it. If you have the time and inclination, build it before doing any restoration; ride it, carefully, and feel how the frame responds and feels. Then you'll know whether it's worth the time and effort of a resto.
Jay Sexton Sebastopol, CA
List: About 6 months ago, I met a fellow here in Brooklyn who was riding a biz arr e machine: A half lugged, half fillet brazed MTB with a front suspensio n f ork...and a Gios Torino "Super Record" paint job. Covered in various ty pes of tape and old tubes...An NYC "beater". "Did you convert an old frame into a mountain bike?" "Nah...I had it made custom in Italy...I was a pro for many years." After a few more run-ins and conversations, it turns out he has/had a nu mbe r of on-topic bikes and memorabilia...most of which were lost in a fire in
his apartment here in Greenpoint a couple of years ago. The one bike that he just couldn't let go to waste, though, was his belo ved Masi. He told me he got it directly from Faliero at the Vigorelli. "Mu sta been 35 years ago." I offerred to help him do some research and see if it could somehow be r ecu ssitated.
He left it in my care to "find out what I could find out".
Based on Bob Hovey's page, it looks like a 76-77? The date on the Super Re cord rear derailleur is 1977. Bottom bracket stamps read "C 54" and (in smaller stamp) "841". Steerer tube also stamped "C 54". Stay caps have "Masi" above "Brev". Two braze-on cable guides are missing, the rear brake bridge is detached an d the right seat stay cap is separated from the seat lug cluster. Please provide any information you can, based on the pics shown in my ne w W oolJersey folder:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
Is this thing just "toast", or what? Or is there any chance it could be br ought back from the dead? Do any of you have any experience bringing a bik e back from a similar state?
Matthew Bowne Brooklyn, New York (where having a burnt Masi in my car feels almost as cool as having a Ma si)