[CR]Could there be something worse than a 'fake' Masi?

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 14:09:38 -0800
From: <rhawks@lmi.net>
To: classics rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Could there be something worse than a 'fake' Masi?

One poster to the list recounted a tale of a late 1800s practice in France of purchasing the rights to names of famous flute makers. Egad. This practice is more wide spread and alas current, than you might think. And I'm afraid to tell you it strikes closer to home and in a more comprehensive way. I imagine you are all sitting at this point, which is good. A current practice within the borders of this country is for somewhat large scale producers of a common beverage to purchase the names of defunct brewers and breweries, and to mass produce *BEER*, labeling it with the names of these bygone breweries. Think about this. Unlike bikes, you never choose a beer based on whether it's raining out. You don't have to equip a beer with lights after dark. You don't have to reinflate anything on your beer halfway through drinking it (although I'll grant you that you may wish to put a head on it at such points but honestly that's not absolutely necessary). You don't categorize your beer by those you will drink and those you will only refrigerate. And trust me, the quality of these deceitfully labeled beers is such that it's clear why the deceit was performed. See how pervasive the presence of beer can be? Being duped by famous beer in name only can have a much larger impact on our lives. I don't mean to undercut the importance of vigilence as regards authenticity of bike frames, but I do want to bring your attention to an equally, perhaps more important area for vigilence. Forewarned is forearmed.

Homer Simpson, skwah bor
Springfield AC ,dnomhciR