HI Brian, thanks. This all started with my original post stating that I am continuously reading or hearing names of folks who worked at Masi USA. I'm talking about the folks mainly on the roster that I tossed out to the list, but also some that were nowhere near Masi. I had no direction or purpose for asking the question, just curious that so many folks whose work we've all at least heard of (if not highly regard such as yours and many of that roster's); it seemed to me a sort of unique circumstance. I feel sort of the same (albeit to a lesser degree) as more info surfaces regarding Trek's early days as well. Then there is Witcomb - and others surely. But the Masi reference seems to come up all the time and usually involves someone who was then or later became tops in their art/work. I also wondered if this impressive alumni roster was due to Masi's ability to recruit talent or its ability to develop it. Based upon your note, it seems to be both. It's also interesting to me that all this happened within a company that saw more than its share of turmoil and uncertainty for the good part of a couple decades. Perhaps all of that has something to do with the huge regard of the bikes by the Masi brethren on this list and elsewhere. Along with great-riding bikes of course. I'm not necessarily one of those brethren, but know several and read them often here. I've owned several Masis, as well as bikes from several alumni (mostly bought used...still looking for that Baylis), and there always seem to be similarities in the work and style - with the exception of the Tesch I owned which was fillet brazed, but still had similarly terrific ride and handling quality. So it was basically me wondering aloud online this time, "gees who all worked for that company anyway?" I do agree with you that the entire roster would be fascinating, but I ain't the man for the job!
Greg Overton - whose 'best' bike, and least 'valuable' is my old beat-to-the-edge Basso Gap team bike that was my daily companion for years and got my tired behind back home from the many places we saw and conquered; rusty and dented and the only real keeper - Salt Lake City, Utah
Greg,
I could add a lot of other names to the list; people none of you have ever heard of. What is the list for again? If it's everyone who ever worked there the list is quite long. If the list is people who continued in the bike business, it is much shorter. If the list is people who went on to paint bikes or build frames (or did so before and/or after working there, it's shorter yet. If it is people who ended up building frames it's shorter again. If it's people who started at Masi with no previous experience who ended up making frames for a living, it's down to about 3 or 4; one of those being myself. Everyone and each period of time involves people from many different circumstances. The entire "family tree" would be both facinating and mind boggeling.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
Glad to see I wasn't on an island with regard to the Masi alumni posts. I've had several more correspondences off list than on. Thanks to those who indulged my online conversations last evening. I see lists popping up here on-list, and wanted to share one that was sort of built in these off list chats last night. Many thanks to Mssrs Hovey, Moos etc for the dialogue and names. Here's the latest one that was agreed upon by my bed time, mostly and originally sent by Bob H.:
Mario Confente Mike Howard Ron Smith Marcel Calbourne Albert Eisentraut Keith Lippy Gian Simonetti Ted Kirkbride Rob Roberson David Moulton Dave Tesch Joe Starck Brian Baylis Jim Cunningham
And a couple 'maybes'
Joe Bell Bill Holland
Comments?
Greg Overton 'how can it be this sunny and this cold at the same time?' Salt Lake City, Utah