If so, how would Alberto's 'Prestige' model bikes be classified, aside from being less than the real deal. I have seen at least one, now asleep upstairs, that shows excellent workmanship, careful attention to detail, and nice paint and chrome, though the fork crowns I believe are carry overs from when his father was at the helm. Just a rehashed composition? Can we get a clearer definition of "real deal". Real deal = total originality among other things?
Dennis Young Hotaka, Japan
>
> 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.
> Masi didn't move his operation to California. He licensed
> Roland Sahm to build and sell Masi bicycles in America.
> Faliero set up the shop 'as if' it was his and left Mario
> to run the show. They made them like in the old country,
> except the Carlsbad frames were aesthetically superior to
> the model or ideal they emulated.
>
> Masi was already in his 60's at this point. I think we connect
> the 'real deal' with the frames made by or in the shadow of the
> old man himself. By sending his master frame building apprentice
> to Carlsbad it's as if he sent the flame/torch of the 'House of
> Masi' with him. When Mario left Masi in 1975 and original cast
> members (Smith, Baylis, Cunningham, Howard, Simonetti and on)went
> their separate ways the ethereal connection to Faliero died.
>
> This is not a knock on frames built later by Lippy, Eisentrout
> and on into the Rancho Santa Fe and San Marcos days. Masi still
> had a trick up his sleeve back in Milano. The 3V was quite
> significant yet it marked the Modern era for Masi in Italy.
>
> I'm not a frame builder nor do I play one on TV. I do own a
> bike shop but I am the only customer ;^)
>
> Matt Gorski
> Belmont Shore, CA