Listees:
As I said a few days ago, I have some interesting information regarding Masi serial numbers and bikes made by or for Masi employees.
Both times I worked at Masi each employee was allowed to purchase a Masi bike if they wanted one at a really good price. One could take one their size off the rack if there was one if they wanted to; but most prefered to have "the crew" build one that was especially for them that they could do their part on also when their frame size came up for construction. On account of this, there are several variations of numbers that could be present. I have seen one frame that was built for an employee that had a date (12-12-74) stamped in the BB shell in addition to the normal serial number sequence. Generally speaking, employee bikes had regular numbers but sometimes could have something unusual in addition to that. Within the past year I have seen two frames that were decaled as Masis and look somewhat like a Masi (made with lugs etc. from Masi) but are not part of the normal production run and have no serial number. Both of these frames were built by the same person. I don't know if they were built at home (I think maybe they were) or were built at the factory afterhours or something. I would call these "unauthorized" but not exactly a counterfiet. I don't think there will many, if any, more of these turning up. Most of the employee frames are official and in almost all cases special care was taken to build them and any special crowns or other bits might be used when the option to do so was present. The best example of a Masi employee frame that I am aware of is the one Cyclart has that is a 50cm frame that we built for a childhood friend of mine who I had gotten a job at Masi, Barry Keyser. It was actually for his wife, although neither of them rode or ever has ridden that I know of. I don't know for sure, but there's a very good chance that frame was never assembled. Eventually it made it to the open market and it landed at Cyclart a while back. I personally painted it that "periwinkle blue" which was my pet color at the time and I'm reasonably certain that no other Masi has ever been painted that color from the factory. Therefore, that frame should have special signifigance to collectors since that one I can verify is primarily my work both lugwise and paintwise. That is a one of a kind frame that is probably in excellent original condition and should be kept original if at all possible to maintain it's collector value. There are very few frames like that out there; and fewer that I know of with a completely custom color paint that was done only once. I remember a chocolate brown one that was David Vanderlindes' frame. That was also a one of a kind now that I think of it, painted by Ron Smith. I remember a lavender frame I built and a pearl white frame also that ended up on the east coast. Those frames could still be out there for all I know. The pearl white one had hearts cut out of the sides of the headlugs and was built with Columbus Record tubing. If anyone runs into such things it's probably a good idea to check with some qualified authority before doing something that would detract from the value of the frame. If the original paint is in need of refinishing, it is foolish to do anything other than repaint it exactly as the original if the original finish is not something that can be restored by a touch-up. The 12-12-74 frame was purchased by a gentleman who was saavy enough to insist on a refinish exactly as the original, which I did.
I'm sure as time goes on there will be oddities that turn up that can be verified to be employee frames. Anyone lucky enough to land one should be happy to know that they are always built with special care and attention. Just make sure you keep the bike original or the value and individuality of the frame are lost. Most of the time the special color reflected the personality of the owner, since we were allowed to express our tastes through special paint treatments.
Serial numbers on Italian built Masis are a little more difficult to know everything about, but still much is known. At that time Masi frames were built my several sub-contractors in various cities near Milano. I have seen one Italian Masi with only a size stamped on it and no letter preceeding it which indicated the contractor. I have seen one frame with the letters of two different contractors preceeding the size. Since there were all these independant builders I don't think it all that unusual that there are some inconsistant markings from time to time. So far I have seen these letters used: M, A, B, P, V, AV, and one that is an "M" but it's upside down (which is easy to to when using number stamps). If anyone else has a pre 1973 Italian Masi that has any other letter or combination, please let me know so I can take note of it.
Early Italian Masis seem to have come in many more colors than what was available by the time they started up in Carlsbad. The early Masis have more classy colors than the later ones in my opinion, not to mention the "specials" with the fade on the seat tube panel.
Happy hunting for those special Masi frames. Every one of them is special in some way or another. When you find 50cm frames that are out of character a little bit those were probably mine, especially if it's an unusual color.
Brian Baylis Enough Masis in La Mesa already; lets get some Flying Scots around here! I've got two on the line which I should have under control by the Velo Rendezvous II. You weren't planning to miss that, were you?