Friends and neighbors,
Recently I was working away when suddenly I brought back a memory of an "urban myth" that I fell prey to as a fledgling cycle enthusiast back in the early 70's. I remember hearing about this "secret silver brazing butter" that was rumored to be the special silver braze that was used only by Masi. It was suspended in some sort of paste form or something and is what was "special" about a Masi. Naturally I never saw this technique in use at Masi in Carlsbad. Of course, now I know that there was never any such thing that I've ever seen; and I've seen plenty in a state where I can tell. The closest thing you will find to a silver brazed Masi will be the Eisentraut built frames that are (oddly enough) silver brazed at the seat lug (the entire seat lug) and seat stay connection only! The rest of the frame is brazed with brass. Technically, the Masi "special edition" frame I was contracted to build by Ted Kirkbride in about 1982 or so is a completely silver brazed Masi frame. It's officially a Masi, has DuBois lugs and the Fischer crown and BB shell and all of the other standard traits of an early CA Masi. It is gold plated and pearl white and is hanging in someones' garage in La Jolla. My guess is with rather low milage, if any.
Anyway, when that memory came back to me that day I just broke down laughing. I wonder where the hell that fairy tale came from??
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work I go! They forgot the eighth dwarf, little bastard; that's me. (Hey, I swing them all day; I can say that can't I?)