RE: eBay item #270190537872
Marcus writes:
>>It looks like the real thing to me. Clamp on shifters suggest mid 70's.
According to Bob Hovey's excellent site, a slotless Fischer fork crown
would suggest a build date of '74-'75. However, matching cable housing,
bottle cage and pump do not seem like Italian details for a bike of that
vintage. Nor do the 32 spoke tied and soldered wheels. I am guessing
repaint, or it was purchased from a bike store that was into
customization.
Marcus;
I'm afraid the "MasiBits" page on fork crowns is a bit misleading in this respect... Note the first photo of the Fischer crown, 1958... caption says the Fishcer crown was used (on and off) "over a period of two decades" (early fifties to mid 70's) When I showed another example later and dated it 74-75, I stated in the caption that it was a return to the same Fischer that was in use before the twin plate. The date on that particular photo only refers to it's use between the twin plate crown and Alberto's slot-shouldered models, and should not be interpreted to mean that every Italian Masi with a Fischer crown will be a 74-75.
The particular bike in question is probably late '71or early '72, judging from the shape of the DT BB socket window, the rounded front edges of the chainstay bridge reinforcements, the absence of windows or holes in the fork blade reinforcements.
It would be very helpful if the owner world drop the fork... there is almost certainly a date on the steerer.
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA
http://bhovey.com/