Listmembers,
Regarding the Masi Project, there is no doubt in my mind that all pieces and details are important to get a clear and exact picture of precisely what transpired during Masis history in the United States. There is no hidden information. Most of the people involved, and certainly the most important, minus Mario of course, are readily available to us. I guarentee that there are no conflicts. Every piece fits perfectly and coincides with events that are known to have happened. What is there to disagree about? This is a simple fact gathering mission. We plot events and dates on the time line and that's that. No one is on trial here. To my knowledge there were no intentional devious business dealings throughout the entire lifespan of Masi; at least not anything out of the normal for saavy wealthy businessmen who have to deal with a bunch of young artistic types (as many Masi employees were). There were a few squirelly times but there is nothing unusual about that.
In Gian Simonetti we have a first hand inside line to almost (if not) all of the major workings at the highest level (not to mention one of the few who could actually talk to Mario). Gian knows the intimate details of every major and minor player in the entire Saga. He appeared shortly after Masi began functioning in Carlsbad and was smack dab in the middle of almost everything that went on between Roland Sahm, Faliero Masi, Roger Smith and Leon Edlefson (Masi Mgt.), Mario, and right on down to the lowest rung of the ladder. He is the only person who knows exactly what was happening on BOTH sides of the Sahm/Recht attempt to transfer ownership of Masi that eventually became Medici/Bill Recht/ Confente. I'm sure Gian knows things about the dealings that one or the other, or both, don't even know. There certainly is no better source of information than that.
Furthermore, Ted Kirkbride was the very first person to get involved in the Masi project in the USA right after Roland Sahm had the idea himself. To some degree at all times from the very outset to this very day; Ted has had some knowledge of the inner workings of the Masi company. He was in personal contact with Mario at the time of his passing and knows what direction Mario was heading when the unthinkable happened. Ted will be intimately famaliar with pretty much everything that transpired at Masi from 1978 to the end of our time line in 1985. Wouldn't you all like to hear about the parts Dave Moulton and Dave Tesch played in this production of " Who gives a rats ass anyway?"
Beyond this granite cornerstone of intimate inside information, there are a considerable number of minor players (including myself) who are full of back-up information and perspectives of the workings from the little mans position. There are also a considerable number who played secondary roles of improtance. All have valuable information to contribute. It's a simple matter of everyone co-operating.
All of these parts fit together like a puzzel. There is no missing information. I trust every one of these people to tell it like it is. There isn't a single person who stands to gain a damn thing from this. The only intent is to record a complete and clear picture of the Masi Family Tree for the sole benifit of the few who care to know the history of Masi.
I can't quite figure out what Jim was refering to in his statement regarding how Marios "competitors" viewed him. Perhaps he wasn't refering to me in that instance. I do not view the world or my colleagues as competitors. I am free and open with information with very few exeptions. I have learned much from, and taught much to, a considerable number of people. If you can't share a bond with those who have a common interest and similar talents as yourself, who the heck can you bond with? Every framebuilder and/or painter at the upper levels has no competetion. Each one is unique and offers a product that no one else can and does make. Perhaps Jim and I have a different view of the world. I have gone out of my way to encourage those like Richard Moon to express thier talents, and add my touch to their work when called upon with no reservation or thought of "competition". I have also been known to encourage anyone who wants to make their own decals to proceed at will; there is no harm in someone doing so. As a matter of fact, it makes my life easier, as with the Somec I'm painting for someone right now. It seems that homemade or small run decals are on the uprise. I've seen four different examples recently. I see no reason not to share these projects with other people both to defray expences and just to help others out.
In closing, I can honestly say that what may seem complex and tedious at the moment, is actually a simple task. Every piece fits. No lie detector machine will be neccessary. It will be quite obvious if something is amiss. The parts around it that are confirmed and known to be true will allow everyone to see any piece that doesn't belong. There aren't going to be any leftover parts once we're finished reassembling this puppy.
The groundwork for the timeline has begun.
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA
Sorry to those who I have not yet responded to personal emails over the past two weeks or so. Too much mail, too much work, too little time.
Yeah, you might want to rethink that competitor angle. I personally don't know of any framebuilders who view thier brothers of the tourch as foes. They're BROS.