Wow, what a difference a day makes... So many questions... I'd like to first address this recurring, emotionally charged rhetoric pertaining to the "heartbreaking" plight of Mario's relatives to repatriate one of his frames. It has somehow been construed by some that my recent declaration of the frame in question as having been brazed by someone other than Mario is tantamount to some sort of cruel withholding of information, which has potentially caused said "relatives" to have been knowingly kept in the dark when I could have pre-empted the ultimate sale of the frame. Well, this is ridiculous. How the hell would I know who was bidding on this thing and why on earth would I want to publicly expose myself to the possibility of attack from the seller's camp. I am a well-known figure in the bicycle world and quite frankly can do without the drama. I did try to raise the specter of doubt in my post (EDITED OUT THE PLURAL) which preceded the close of the auction. As far as I'm concerned, the frame is a Confente. He was certainly there as it was being brazed. So was I. So was our friend who brazed the frame. Of course, Mario approved everything. I took issue with the over-the-top marketing of this frame and it somehow being inextricably tied to Mario's own hand, which while I don't even think is important, was being stressed in this offering. I helped finance Mario's business so I had and have intimate knowledge of who received the frames during the period in which I was involved. I only bring this stuff up because it seems a few people want to know how I can be sure this frame was not one that he built. There is also a reason why this frame (and some others) were chosen to be "farmed out" to a "ghost brazer". This usually had to do with the customer. The idea of paying a premium for this particular frame made me laugh and I'll say it again... Mario would have laughed too. RIP