Seems to be a Masi-like name split between the US and UK with the Dawes
name. Note the Dawes Lightning models here
http://www.bikesdirect.com/
and the Dawes site that Don Wilson cited at http://www.dawescycles.com/
Larry Osborn said "... Dawes went out of business sometime in the 80s. The current company, which I think appeared in the early 90s, purchased the rights to the name, and apparently some of the model names, but that's all they purchased. No other connection to the previous company, ..."
Peter
..........
Peter Brueggeman
La Jolla California USA
4peebee(at)peterbrueggeman.com