from the magazine, M. The Civilized Man September 1984 Author. Nadine Frey
yada, yada, yada... The Volumetrica... is the pride of the Masi firm, a 19-pound bicycle with astonishining strength. "The secret to this bicycle is in the tubes and joints," explains Alberto Masi, who himself designed and patented the joints. "The tubes for the frame are as thick as six sheets of paper-but they're specially heat treated in France for strength." In fact, the same firm that heat treats the Masi tubes also treats steel for Ferrari automobiles and the Mirage jet fighter. To illustrate, Masi puts one of the new lighter but stronger tubes into a vise and begins turning-the tube folds without cracking until either side is touching the other. Masi releases the vise quickly and the tube springs back into place. (Richie's advice: don't try this with your Trek!). Because of its special properties, the new steel tubing can't be subjected to a high heat. So Masi invented and patented a new form of joint which, fitted outside rather than inside the tubes, can be welded on without actually heating the tubes. (Richie's edit: a new form of joint! COOL DADDIO!!). For added elegance, all the joints on the frame are welded together with a gold and silver alloy. yada, yada, yada... this text is lifted from a three-pager which i refuse to type. i don't want to wear out the 'shift' key. e-RICHIE
On Wed, 10 Apr 2002 07:58:32 -0700 (PDT) Fred Rafael Rednor
<fred_rednor@yahoo.com> writes:
> e-Reechard wrote:
> > french supplier = excel tubing.
> and Lou Deeter said:
> > ...He says that the small frames had
> > straight guage tubes with .4mm walls.
>
> So now I ask...
> Wasn't _all_ Excel tubing straight gauge? Or was
> this only true for their first bicycel tubing?
> Amitiés,
> Fred Rednor - Arlington, Virginia
>
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