I have to agree. In most cases, I don't worry about "original", only "period correct". As you say, most Masis, and in fact most Italian bikes, were sold as framesets, or ordered complete with the user's choice of components. And even when a bike came complete with more or less "standard" parts, I think most of us "in the day" upgraded some components either at purchase or soon thereafter. So if one wants to build a bike as it would have been ridden at the time, any components reasonably available at the time are equally "correct".
There are a couple of exceptions, were a model was predominantly sold with stock equipment. One would be the Schwinn Paramount, where many buyers didn't know the components that welll, but simply wanted "top of the line" and had the money to pay for it. They also might be inclined to keep the original Campy gear because it was the most prestigeous. Of course, in many cases the racing oriented gearing and maybe the choice of the racing model itself did not really suit the buyer, who soon hung the bike in the garage to gather dust for the next 20 years. Another exception might be the PX-10. Although lots of people did upgrade the components, I think the stock configuration is significant because it represented a good quality complete competitive racing bike for, in the early 70's, less than $200. Also, Peugeot was very consistent, for many years, in maintaining virtually entrirely French components on the PX-10, where other French manufacturers would often include some Campy parts, or Weinmann, or even a Japanese bit or two. Thus the PX-10 was much more likely to actually come with the parts shown in the catalog than most other top French models.
Regards,
Jerry Moos Big Spring, TX
Brandon Ives <brandon@ivycycles.com> wrote: Dave I'm 100% with you and have wanted to say these same words for a few years now. I do think I understand where the other side is coming from. My guess is trying to spec bikes just like the catalog or show photo from the time. Of course also many manufacturers had a preferred spec too and sold bikes fully kited out and that needs to be taken into account. I will probably never own a "correct" bike since the whole idea just bothers me. If I had bought the discussed Masi new as a frame you can bet dollars to doughnuts that I would have speced it way different than the pics in the mags. I really like when I see a bike that reflects the owner as much as the builder. For me bikes built as pictured are boring and unimaginative. best, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives Vancouver, B.C.
On Sunday, Dec 11, 2005, at 08:48 US/Pacific, David Patrick wrote:
> During Bob Hovey's reply to Steven Maasland, Bob made the comment:
> "..the hardest part of doing a proper '74 twin plate restoration is
> finding those engraved Masi ttt bars..". Bob, I mean absolutely no
> disrespect, so please don't misunderstand me, but this comment bugs
> the %$&# out of me. Why does a properly restored twin-plate Masi GC
> need to have engraved Masi 3t bars to be "correct" or properly
> restored? Is your comment based on the fact that some twin-plate Masi
> frames were equipped with these bars when purchased as a complete
> bike? In putting forth these types of comments, some are loosing
> touch with the fact that these Masi GCs were bought as bare frames and
> built up with period components of the time. So it would be correct
> to see these period correct components on a "properly restored '74
> twin-plate Masi, wouldn't it? I'd say engraved Cinelli bars were the
> most commonly seen bar on any high-end Italian road bike from from the
> 1970s. Perhaps Bob's comment is based on
> the fact that engraved Masi 3t bars are very rare? I just don't
> think that in any stretch of the imagination should a '74 twin-plate
> Masi GC w/engraved Cinelli bars be viewed in a lesser light than the
> same bike w/engraved Masi 3t bars. I hate to see this mind-set where
> one type of component is viewed as "correct" for a bike, as rarely is
> this the case when we're dealing with a period when framesets were
> quite frequently sold as a stand-alone item and built up to the
> rider's wish. I've ranted before about how Martano rims are viewed by
> many as THE "correct" rim for 1970s Masi bikes. So, perhaps I'm
> stirring the pot this morning, which can be a good thing in my mind,
> so heap it on, my fellow CR members. What say you?
>
>
> Dave Patrick
> Chelsea, Michigan (no, I haven't had ANY caffeine this morning)