Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Unidentifiable Masi

Bought this today from a guy who bought it in West Berlin in 1985. It's very hard to identify as none of markers match up to the markers on site. Such a lovely thing, though...

Full super record group. The only parts not made in italy are the Mavic G40 rims. The condition of the parts are nearly new. Less than 100 miles.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PmwpHemjM6c/TsWHE0dVKsI/AAAAAAAACkQ/QvnqN_R77m4/s800/IMG_20111117_135227.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wj2og4BBQ18/TsWG5LSUg5I/AAAAAAAACkI/RoxtL4O6ND0/s800/IMG_20111117_135238.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vfadymPvSDY/TsWG0oyLDgI/AAAAAAAACkA/-QgUUyI6EiA/s800/IMG_20111117_135251.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OQi6r72SI3o/TsWGwJ0t-xI/AAAAAAAACj4/49Sz5gIZkqQ/s800/IMG_20111117_135300.jpg

Let's see the underside oft eh bottom bracket.
At this point my best guess is a MASI USA contract frame. Ask Jim Allen of the Cyclesmiths in San Diego County.
Or, ask Alberto Masi, but ask Jim first.
Who knows how it got to Germany.

Thank repechage. I had another thread in the main forum on identifying it. I understand that some of the worth hinges on identifying it, but I posted the bike here to get an idea of the worth.

Call it a generic Italian frame with a SR group, say $800?

^^^^I see what you mean. I'll be emailing Jim very soon.

Thanks

For a bike like this however (whatever Masi it happens to be), is it worth more as a whole or parted-out?

A la carte.

So I got in touch with Jim Allen over at Cyclesmiths in Ranchita. He says that it's one of Alberto's Prestige models built in '85. He pointed to the investment cast lugs, and Alberto's signature lower case engraving on the fork crown and seat-stays. He says it was probably repainted at some point by Masi.

Given this information, any ideas on worth? And is it worth more altogether or parted out?

I certainly am no expert, but I have never seen a 80s Prestige with that fork crown or seatstay caps. '85 Prestige typically had Fischer crown engraved with F.Masi shield, and an "H" like design on the seatstay cap.

Time to ask Alberto.

By the way, it does not apply to this bike but there was a batch of frames Masi USA ordered and for reasons unknown did not like, so they sold them off to Euro-Asia. They sold them off to dealers, they show up from time to time, and they don't match any other Masi USA in features. I have not been able to pin down the number of these "almost a Masi" frames.

Do you have Alberto's email address?

Could you give us a picture of the area under the bottom bracket shell?

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FqxFNidhIEI/TsdMdf0jMXI/AAAAAAAACnw/aRN-SIDH1fY/s800/myMasi.05%2525281%252529.jpghttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c8ONSn1d_84ICLb5q1XUMOMSEkB56HPHfB5stFnL_fM?feat=directlinkhttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c8ONSn1d_84ICLb5q1XUMOMSEkB56HPHfB5stFnL_fM?feat=directlink

The bottom bracket underside shot gives a strong and anti case for the bike. Note the small stampings above the downtube socket window, Alberto used to stamp a date code there, month and the last two digits of the year. The against is the absence of an M cut out of any type.

Maybe Alberto was considering making a pricepoint bike in Italy for the Europeans, many other significant names in Italian road bikes at the time were. While Alberto had a steady market for the Volumetrica, the Prestige did not go away.
In the 60's almost all Masis were Masi Specials. With a few exceptions I have seen. Both road and pista bikes were Specials.
The Gran Criterium arrived in 1970 to the public and while there were a few Specials to be made after, in short order the Special was pnly for the pista bikes.
It stayed that way till the Prestige that arrived in 1975 as close as I can tell. The Gran Criterium apparently continued till about 1978. Maybe the GC was dad's model? Also a Faliero Masi shows up in the middle 70's on a few bikes.

If Alberto acknowledges the bike, it probably had the headtube graphic seen in about the middle of this selection with the lower case m and white background.

http://www.bhovey.com/Masi/MasiBits/Head.htm

I would think this rules out the frame being a Prestige. Is there a patent date on the SR derailleur or the cranks?

Alberto's web site has been offline for some time. He does have a linkedin account. Greg Hohn was representing him in the USA, but his site is hopelessly out of date, I have not attempted to call. From all reports, new bikes out of the Vigorelli are sublet to other builders.