Matthew Gorski wrote:
>
> My $02 on the Real Deal Masi's are....
>
> Italian Masi's (Specials, GC's ....) built up to 1973ish
> and than the Carlsbad Masi's built in late 73/74/75
>
> Mario Confente was the Verona shop foreman until mid 1973
> when he came with Faliero to set up the Carlsbad operation.
"From 1968 to 1970, Mario continued to build frames in his home workshop (in Verona --Chuck). During this period, Ditta Bianchi asked him to build frames for his company under a piece work agreement. Soon, Mario had more work then he could handle by himself. He quickly outgrew his facility. In 1970, Mario hired several apprentices and was forced to relocate his frame building business. The new shop, though modest, was expansive and he lived above it in a small apartment with his parents.
His reputation continued to grow and Pietro Guerra adds, 'We presented
Mario to the famous Masi of Milano. In the beginning, Masi brought work
to Verona for Mario. At the time the bike market was slow in Italy, so
with the Masi project he transferred to California in search of better luck.'"
>From Russ Howe's The Mario Confente Story http://www.bicycletrader.com/
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
.