As someone who has built a few frames and been in the trades for a living for
awhile, and having met Faliero in 1984, I have a few cents to add. The old
concept is that you are an apprentice for 4 years, at which point, you MAY be
a qualified journeyman. After 20 years as a journeyman, you MAY become a
master, IF you have what it takes. Faliero was a master. All his frames made
under license or in his shop, were made using "jig masters" to set up the
jigs unless it was a custom design. Design consistency. He hired promising,
talented workers, worthy of his tutelage to build "his" frames. Dave Tesch
was a nuclear submarine certified welder before he went to Masi USA. I've
seen him silver braze, his technique is flawless. Brian Bayliss needs no
introduction. The names Confente, Tommasini, Pela and others have been
mentioned as having worked for him, and at the least, learned his methods. I
think it is clear that whoever built Masis, was well qualified and did
excellent work under Faliero's supervision, building bike frames to his
exacting designs. Craftsmanship consistency. The next point to remember, is
that to make a living, an Italian frame builder is trying to get team
contracts, to supply frames that have a life expectancy of 6 months. One guy
can't do it alone. If you have a Masi that you know was made by Faliero, you
have a collectible. If you have any of the Masis made in an authorized
manner, you have an excellent bike frame.
Now I'll give you, if this same frame is made in Taiwan by a robot welder,
even to the same specs, it lacks the human touch of the superior craftsman
creating a thing of great functional beauty. At least for me. Bottom line:
I'm in agreement with Richard Sachs and a few others who have said a lot of
things rather well. Faliero absolutely deserves to have his signature on his
frames. Consistent design, consistent craftsmanship, consistent materials
quality = brand. His brand was Masi, he made bicycles, not mysterious,
magical whatevers.
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA