John,
One of the primary differences between a Wizard or any well conceived modern lugged handmade frame and what Mario was doing is that Mario was doing handmade production, like many builders today do. Mario was just building Masis with fewer people and different lugs. When a "standard" lugset, same fork on every bike, and a limited scope of style and type of frames is produced by a single person or small group of people; there is a tremendous savings of time involved and a serious lack of creativity. When a builder takes the time to do every bike custom from every respect, from lug styles and decoration, custom tubing selections on every bike, and paint colors not on the charts; it becomes a different type of bike. There's a lot more "art" in such a creation, not to mention about 4 or 5 times as much labor. If it is truly the work of one hand, from frame drawing to final clearcoat or even beyond, there is a lot more heart and soul in the creation. Probably much of it is missed by even the owners of the bikes. Once all of the current builders have passed; you will see the final shakedown in "collectors value". A savvy collector will be able to see into the future, and the wise ones will make their move long before the next generation comes to realize this. Most of the "collectors" I know are pretty shortsighted and have something else on their minds other than the true and actual subtle and magical qualities of the frames the few really artistic and knowledgeable builders make. I'm not saying that "good" or even "great" frames aren't produced by ANY method; because good or great frames, insofar as how they ride, are made under pretty much all manufacturing conditions, and that's a fact. But the work of a single hand is in a category of it's own; especially if everything is top quality. Think about it. How many things are genuinely "out there" that are like this now days? Not much that most of us can afford, that's for sure!
The Wizards were the work of only two individuals, both of whom have proved their longevity in the business. Wizards represent the early work of two dedicated framebuilders and are a piece of history that is still alive today; too bad for us! Wizards are pretty much one of a kinds from the beginning. We used a variety of lugs and various treatments for forks, stay arrangements, BB cutouts, and paint colors, amongst other things. Not cookie cutter at all and not just an extension of our previous training. We began to grow and innovate from the beginning. We influenced and inspired quite a few of the framebuilders working or retired today. Unfortunately there was no one hoarding our early work that was interested on capitalizing on our untimely death. Therein lies the difference in the current values in my opinion.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
USA
I'm admittedly in the "ride it if ya got it" collector realm.
That backdrop, looking at the Confente as a rare and fabulous machine in quite exquisite condition - would I rather have that or a Wizzard? Might the Wizzard cost 20% of the Confente?
Seeing Mike Howard's recent pictures, I think I'd enjoy the Wizzard more, because I find the pedigree even more interesting, built by men who, in part, learned their craft from the legendary Confente. A lineage that leads from Masi, to California, through Confente resulting in Baylis, Howard-Medici.
Yes, irrespective of monetary considerations, I'd rather have a Wizzard.
John Siemsen
Portland, Oregon