[CR]re: ebay CA Masi

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

From: "C. Andrews" <chasds@mindspring.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 09:41:34 -0700
Subject: [CR]re: ebay CA Masi

Ralph queried:

"Hello All: I've been watching an ebay auction for a California Masi Gran Criterium but there isn't much interest. I don't understand in that I thought there was quite a demand for these bikes. It's ebay item #1838545949. Can anyone clue me in?

Regards,

Ralph Robinson

Beautiful downtown Merrifield, Falls Church, VA"

and Matt responded:

"Ralph, It's 52cm Center to Top and 5-7 years beyond Carlsbad production. Folks are shelling out $$$ for (specifically) the early Carlsbad stuff.

Matt *`73, `75, `89 GC's and an `84 (ish) 3V* Gorski North of Carlsbad, CA"

**********

At the risk of starting yet *another* Masi thread, but for the benefit of those list members who aren't aware of the nuances in Masi production over the years (this is *not* for Masi fanatics among us, unless, of course, you want to correct me... ;> ); California Masis made after the Carlsbad plant ceased production (that is, made in San Marcos and elsewhere), use cast lugs. They are nice enough, and ride fine, but, to my taste, do not possess the obvious hand-worked charm of the Carlsbad Masis, nor of the Italian Masi GCs that preceeded them.

Also, beyond the cast-lug issue, Carlsbad and italian Masis occasionally have interesting details of construction and graphics that add to their charm. These details (like the lovely twin-plate fork crown of storied reputation...) are lacking in the later frames.

Finally, there is, in my view, a romance about the Carlsbad frames, and the italian frames, that is not duplicated by the later frames. Most obviously, they are a specific artifact of a time gone forever. An important time in my life, anyway...and in that of others, apparently.

This is purely subjective, having nothing to do with quality, ride, or anything else. We love those early Masis because we love 'em, simple as that....I remember the first one I ever saw, I believe it was an italian frame, or early Carlsbad production, I just can't remember now, and I was hooked (this would have been 1973 or thereabouts)...for that reason, the earliest GCs have the most value to me, and, it seems, for others too. This is why they fetch much more on the open market than the later iterations of the GC.

No slam on the later Masis: they can be exquisite--I've owned a couple of them, and one from the late 70s was lovely...just not as lovely as the early ones. Overall quality on later GCs was variable, in my experience, however..but then, there are some early italian GCs that are a bit on the crude side. Even so, they are still far more interesting than the later frames.

I've mentioned this before, but as an example of one detail that disappeared on later frames: the fork bend on the early GCs was a thing of beauty--other than on old Pogliaghis, I've never seen a fork bend as attractive as the one on early GCs...it seems the fork bend changed somewhat after the Carlsbad facility shut down.

Also note that the Italian and Carlsbad GC of 1970-1974 was, usually, one of the most beautifully finished frames on the market at the time. A typical italian production frame of the period wasn't even close in terms of refined workmanship and elegant design. Colnago was the only one making frames at this level, and even early Colnagos don't show the kind of loving detail the early GCs do...although they probably handle better--a different thread altogether ;> (this doesn't include custom stuff like Herse and Singer and others--I'm talking production frames here. Gillott and Ephgrave also excepted...my point is, if you wanted an italian, or italian-style production frame at that time, a Masi was pretty much the ne plus ultra of the type.) As has been pointed out, the Carlsbad Masis were eventually so refined in their workmanship that they set a new standard for a specifically American brand of framebuilding. A standard that's evolved to the present stunning work by some of the builders on this list.

There is something about imagining all those young, idealistic guys down there in Carlsbad building elegant, beautiful bikes that makes the bikes a perfect symbol of youth, and vigor, and even of that elusive immortality we all had when we were young. You all know what I mean, it's one of the reasons we do this at all.

After riding down to the old Carlsbad factory building--within sight of the Pacific, (it's still there--thanks for the tour Jim!), one perfect gold-and-blue California afternoon last year, the romance, for me, is stronger than it ever was.

Charles "romance costs" Andrews
SoCal