Those holes are indeed unlined thru and thru, but they are not unreinforced... if you'll look at the light reflections around the holes, as well as the thickness of the cutouts, one can see that it is not a plain tube edge there. It appears the holes were lined with something, or perhaps a bead of braze was added around the opening so the edges would not be so sharp.
While we're discussing these Swiss cheese bikes, let's not forget this one...
http://classicrendezvous.com/
These slotted stays have no lining or reinforcement of any sort. And it is very hard to imagine a more minimal dropout or seatstay treatment. Or a bottom bracket with any less metal in it...
Bob Hovey Columbus, GA
In a message dated 2/26/2006 12:09:29 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:
John - Thank you very much for posting these pictures. Particularly from the shadows in the pix, I read these cut-outs as naked. That is, there do not seem to sleeves lining the holes, unlike (for example) the weird Pinos. This point is very important to me for a couple of reasons. First, I assert that this unreinforced style is an invitation to tube buckling, and general weakness and loss of rigidity. This is an experiment you can do at home, with a couple of plastic straws. Leave one alone, and slice edges off the other like the down tube of the Messori. One slice on each side will do, but have them reasonably long, like those on that bike. Set both up as cantilever beams sticking out over a table edge, with the same amount of overhang on each. Have the slots be the verticals. Now, hang weights (paper clips?) from the ends, and see what happens... Second, this inference was the basis for the disagreements about the Masi belonging to a not-to-be-named ex CR member from Boston. I inferred that the chainstay cutouts were unlined, but the claim is made that they were indeed lined with steel tubing brazed in place. That would be much stronger than an unlined version, and only a little heavier than the original. thanks again, harvey sachs mcLean va.
John Waner wrote:
Thought I would share these pictures, they came from a acquaintance in
Italy and have been informed that the bike is not for sale.
http://www.wooljersey.com/
I recall we had some pictures of a Masi that had similar treatment on the chain stays only, it has been suggested that this bike might have been the inspiration. I think the bike was made by a builder named Messori, this is all second hand information, I would never claim to be a wealth of cycling knowledge, just a student. John Waner Huntington Beach, CA.