A similar thread was played out here awhile back. I believe the marque then was Hetchins. I recall the general gist being that it is incorrect to hold that a Masi today (a Haro-Masi, if you will), is not a "real" Masi. In this case, Haro owns the name and is legally applying it to the bike they are marketing, therefore, the bike is a real Masi. Obviously, there is no relationship between a 2004 Masi and a 1974 Masi, other than the name and the fact that it has the same number of certain parts, like two wheels. We wouldn't expect the Masi today to be the same as one from 30 years ago. That's not the way the design process works. Bikes have always been a compromise between tradition, performance, manufacturing, marketing and accounting. The form they take at any one time is a result of the confluence of these forces as expressed in a competitive marketplace.
Riders today do not buy a Masi for the name. They buy it because that particular bike has the features, look, reputation and support that they desire at the time they are ready to make their purchase. Whereas we may have placed value in the evidence of individual or corporate craftsmanship that went into the frame, this is no longer a primary consideration with most modern riders. Some of the big names have retro steel models available. the fact is, they are just not what most of the market wants today. People are making their choices on different attributes.
I think it is fine to differentiate bikes from the same manufacturer by era. A '70s Paramount is not at all the same bike as an '80s Paramount, and we can even divide up the '80s with that model. But, to say that an '88 Paramount is not a Paramount is just not right. Is it not a Paramount, because it was not made on Kostner Ave? Why isn't a '60s or '70s model not a Paramount, since it was not made in Wastyn's shop?
My guess? If Masis were still being manufactured by Masis, they would closely resemble the Masis being sold today. Let's enjoy our bikes for what they are, and not argue that manufacturers are designing and selling junk to idiots. There were people who argued in favor of the pennyfarthing over the newfangled safeties way back in pre-CR-timeline days, after all.
Steve Barner, Bolton, Vermont, where it's still snowing, but the sap is running. The buckets have been replaced by sap lines and galvanized, soldered evaporators have given way to welded stainless steel. The syrup is just as sweet, the cost has been kept down and now it's even better for you. Technology moving on. Buy some real maple syrup today!
> From: "Nick Zatezalo" <nickzz@mindspring.com>
> To: "Richard M Sachs" <richardsachs@juno.com>
> Cc: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 1:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Masi GC on ebay, etcetera...
>
>
> > Don't need no wannabes! Don't want no wannabes! Don't have no
wannabes!
> >
> > To address your previous comment: The 'W' stands for wannabe NOT Walter.
> >
> > Nick Zatezalo
> > Atlanta,Ga