OOPS, in the below reply I state that the frameset in question was made with Chromor tubing, it wasn't, Cromor was a later Columbus tubeset. These frames were made with Columbus Aelle.
Jim
On 1/31/2011 9:43 AM, JimAllen wrote:
> I may be a definitive expert.
>
> This looks like a first generation Nuova Strada, imported around 1984.
> These originally came in white and red, with top mounted vinyl decals.
> The frames were made of Columbus Chromor tubesets by Billato in Italy.
>
> The management at Masi decided that these frames did not meet their
> standards. The decals were peeled off, and the frames were sold bare
> to Bob Hansing at Euro Asia Imports.
>
> Later Nuova Strada and Gran Corsas were made with SL and SLX tubesets,
> and with investment cast lugs, also by Billato and with much more care.
>
> I can't say whether or not Ralph Carnevale knows the source of these
> framesets, but they are clearly not Gran Criteriums. He was around at
> the time, and I think he was a Masi dealer for a while, so should know
> the difference.
>
> Also, Gion (Ralphs spelling, not mine) Simonetti could not have
> painted these "at the factory" (as stated in EBay Q & A) since he had
> long been off building his own frames by the time they were imported!
>
> This is not the first time one of these rebadged frames has been
> brought up on the list. I have sent a comment for the EBay Q & A, want
> to bet whether or not Carnevales posts it?
>
> Jim Allen
> the CycleSmiths
> Ranchita, California
> 760 782 2737
>
>
>
>
> On 1/30/2011 11:51 PM, rdf1249@aol.com wrote:
>> I may not be the definitive expert, but I've never seen a Masi with
>> these lugs, fork crown, brake bridge, cable guides, pump peg, and
>> fade paint. Anybody else?
>>
>> http://ebay.com/
>>
>> A repainted M_________?
>>
>> Sorry Ralph.
>>
>> Bob Freeman
>> Elliott Bay Bicycles
>> 2116 Western Ave
>> Seattle, WA 98121
>> 206-441-8144
>> http://www.elliottbaybicycles.com
>> http://www.davidsonbicycles.com