Steven,
The "special" decal on the down tube looks like a different font that I've seen before, suggesting a reproduction to me. Wouldn't Alberto have "real" masi decals?
just a guess
Grant McLean Toronto.Ca
From: themaaslands@comcast.net
The paint is most definitely not original to this bike, nor are the top tube
braze-ons. The rear drop-outs seem to be period correct (I believe that the
top hole for the Campagnolo Sport derailleur spring is visible) for an early
60's Masi Special, as does the whole fork. The headlugs also have the neat
little 'rib' that was common on many of the Masi Specials that I have seen
(one which is now sitting in my garage and will be delivered to its new
owner at le cirque.) All of the Masi Specials of the early 60's vintage that
I have seen had Georg Fischer BB shells which this one doesn't have. It
could be that the frame was simply given to Alberto Masi for painting. I
have a frame that used to belong to the late Wladimiro Panizza (check out
his palmares at: http://www.velo-club.net/
--
Steven Maasland
Moorestown, NJ