Howdy Richard and gang,
To me; proper design for the job at hand, build quality, and alignment are far more important than skin deep cosmetics or heritage. That's me though. I was just trying to sort out the Msai/Waterford desirability quotient for the passionate people on the list.
Replies See Below in bold: In a message dated 9/5/01 2:17:11 PM, rrose@normandassociates.com writes:
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Gilbert Anderson wrote, in part...
>The reason the Waterford is less
desirable than the Masi to our humble group has nothing to do with ride,
quality of build, alignment or reputation.
Aren't these the qualities that we should hold in highest regard? To me yes....
> The lack of any chrome plating,
You can get the stainless steel head lug option.
>pantographing, fancier paint and most important; decals that please the
eye
hold this machine back.
True perhaps, but with the optional panel treatment the paint can be
quite handsome. Decals, Hmmm.., "most important"??!! Really? Between the two, Masi and Waterford to the vocal people on this list, maybe.
> A sporty headbadge would not hurt either.
Well, who wouldn't like a headbadge but I find the Waterford headtube
"Crest"(?), to be very tasteful. I think that the paint and decals and so forth are tasteful but perhaps they might look tired or stately compared to the Ferrarri style racy good looks of the Masi, just opinions, nothing more.
> I feel
that a Waterford with old time Guercoitti(sic) or Masi style transfers
would
be easier to sell today and much more desirable later.
Again, this may be true. But, how sad. Is beauty only skin deep? The
fact remains that one can pick up the phone & talk to Richard Schwinn
about "your" frame. Could one ever do that with a Masi?
If Gilbert is right about the above things "holding this machine
back".., well, maybe we deserve a world full of Giant TCR's & S-bend
seat & chainstay's. Not that those are bad things...
I would have no problem choosing to own a Waterford personally, I was just expressing what I hear from people on and off the list. I feel that fine bikes generally have fine graphic highlights, not all but most. Richard Sachs and Bryan Bayliss (and others on the list) do not overlook this element in their finished product. The Waterford certainly has a more understated look than most Masi's (that is not bad, just different) and they have addressed this themselves as a potential shortcoming (real or imagined). Both are course fine products.
All the best gang, no offense intended,
Gilbert Anderson
Richard ("the details are not the details, they are the product."
(Charles Eames"), Rose
Toledo, Ohio >>