Steve Maasland wrote, in part:
"If you are speaking of the three bike brands: Colnago, Pogliaghi and Cinelli, Colnago is without doubt the one that has remained the closest to an artisan builder with the namesake in charge of the building of the bikes. If on the other hand, you are only concerned with the actual persons: Sante Pogliaghi, Ernesto Colnago and Cino Cinelli; then, you should perhaps rank Pogliaghi before Colnago as far as artisanship, but Cinelli wouldn't even rank.
BTW, the word is "collectible"
Steven Maasland Moorestown, NJ USA"
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I'm not too sure how we're defining artisanship here. If it's defined as "the guy actually brazed up his own frames" then maybe Pogliaghi ranks first among Colnago and Cinelli. But it's worth noting that by the early 70s Pogliaghi had a number of shop-workers who brazed frames. Pogliaghi probably spent more time supervising and teaching than he did brazing, at that point. The real artisan among the famous Milanese is probably De Rosa, although I dunno how much actual hands-on stuff he's doing anymore. Certainly back in the day, De Rosa's frames involved a bit more hand-work than Pogliaghis did.
To me, this hands-on stuff is far less important than the guiding-spirit behind a given frame. Taken on that basis, Colnago would have to rank first, Cinelli a close second. Pogliaghi's frames were famously crude in the finish department, although I happen to like the way they ride quite a lot, owing to the long wheel-bases, slack angles and low bb shells on his frames into the mid-70s. Still, it's be difficult to choose between a prime Pogliaghi and a prime Cinelli in the ride-quality department.
Colnagos of the 70s tend to be a lot quicker in their handling, owing to slightly steeper angles than the Cinelli, Pogliaghi, or Masi of that era. Until the Masi Prestige of course.. Faliero's answer to the Super, if I remember right.
Truth is, I wouldn't want to have say *who* was the greatest of the big five: De Rosa, Colnago, Pogliaghi, Cinelli, Masi. They (or their guiding spirits) were all responsible for beautiful bikes that ride flawlessly and are very collectible up to 1980, and in some cases beyond that. Masi probably built to the highest quality--De Rosa and Cinelli were known for occasional dry joints. Pogliaghis seem to have been adequate in that department, but very crudely finished off (the paint work was often truly terrible)...Colnagos really do seem to have been the best all-around: adequately constructed to a refined design, and, except for a few rare instances, very nicely finished.
My plugged nickle.
Charles Andrews SoCal
Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist.
--Kenneth Boulding