Well, I was comparing the Sachs/Weigle built Witcombs to a Masi reputedly built by Confente, not to a frame bearing the Confente name. I suppose the rareness argument still applies, but I it sounds like Ritchie and Peter built only a small percentage of the frames sold by Witcombe USA, so the Witcombs built by them may not be all that many more than the Masis built while Mario was there. Yet the Masis have been elevated to cult status, while there is relatively little interest in Witcomb. The whole thing seems a bit out of proportion to me. But then I think a Peugeot PX-10 rides better than any Italian bike I've ever ridden, so I guess I'm just a contrarian.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX
chasds@mindspring.com wrote: Jerry wrote about Weigle and Sachs frames, as compared to Confente frames:
"I don't think the happy fact that both these guys are still with us and still building completely accounts for that.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Houston, TX"
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Uh, actually, Jerry, it does account for that, completely and entirely. And if you ever try to buy a Confente in any kind of competitive-purchase situation, you will see that this is so.
Two other factors make Confentes so desirable. First, they are *really* pretty bikes in clean, original condition. Second, the *time* they were made... Just listen to Simon and Garfunkle's Bookends Theme about 10 times over and you'll have it. "Time it was, and what a time it was" indeed.
The facts that Confente made fewer than 150 frames under his own name, that he died young (very romantic, sad, but romantic), and that his work was immediately raved about and talked up by people in the business, all make a pretty big difference. None of this applies to a Witcomb.
So, it's not at all mysterious why his bikes routinely fetch over 5 grand, and Witcombs don't.
Charles "wish I'd been profligate enough to buy a Confente when I had the chance a few years ago" Andrews SoCal