This same thing exists in all market places. Brands get known by various ways, advertising, reputation, sponsorship, general visibility to other customers etc. Once you establish that cache, things get much better. Getting it is the trick. I think the well known Italian brands are a combination of visibility (pro riders) and initial quality. Maintaining that quality is much more difficult when the volumes go up.
Gary Watts Vancouver, Washington USA
Jerry Wrote: I agree about "another beautiful Italian bike". It seems that In The Day there were dozens, maybe even hundreds of builders in Italy turning out frames with a very high level of detailing. Most of them even the CR membership probably never heard of. Makes you wonder why certain marque like Cinelli, Masi, Poliaghi and DeRosa have acquired mojo and can command several thousand dollars on eBay. Granted, these bikes can be stunning, but equally stunning frames from other builders remain completely unknown and unsought after.
Jerry Moos