Masi SN interpretation.
 

Picked up this frame this week end. Curious about the SN or the numbers stamped in the BB. It is a 60 frame so that is obvious. Don't know how to interpret the rest of the numbers. What is your comment?

[IMG]http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc14b58e0.jpg[/IMG]

OK so this is a better pic:
[IMG]http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5256ff9d.jpg[/IMG]
A second question. What the heck is Masi Columbus tubing?
[IMG]http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf2306030.jpg[/IMG]

Not much has been investigated for the subordinate Masi models. Contract made in Italy for Masi USA by Mondonico or Bilatto starting in the middle 1980's.
Jim Allen has written that many if not all were painted by him in the USA. With that, possibly the serial numbers were stamped here.
Jim Allen of the Cycle Smiths (might be one word) in Vista Ca if I remember correctly would be the one to ask. He might be able to confirm who made it too.

Thanks! I was aware of the made in Italy and painted here, but didn't know much more. This is a Gran Corsa so is like a price point bike as I understand. It is a bit heavy so the tubing can't be great. I sent an email to the address on CR.
[IMG]http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaa4e513f.jpg[/IMG]

I forgot about the Ten Speed Drive import period. That bike may have been painted in Florida.

Email bounced. Do you know anything about the tubing?

[IMG]http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc90514c0.jpg[/IMG]

No, it was from a time where Columbus would allow/assist/provide? customized tubing transfers if you ordered enough. No idea what level of tubing it really was, nor how it was formed, drawn, welded seam, butted, gauge(s).
Overall I liked the Gran Corsa geometry and fittings a bit more than the Nuova Strada the frame just above it, but it was heavier.

Repechage, No seams from looking down the seat tube and head tube. The frame and fork scale to 6lbs+. thanks for the response and perspective. Trying to decide what to do with it, keep or sell.

You will not be able to see any seams, just like Truetemper tubing, welded then further processed to obliterate and homogenize the steel at the weld. True temper did get a bad rep for a while as their tubing did fail at the seams on occasion if the processing was bad and the weld line was just at the wrong orientation during frame construction. That caused Richard Sachs to discontinue using it long ago.

6+ lbs translates to a fork in the 800 gram range and the frame about 2 kilos. Not that heavy for a 60 cm example.

Ahh. Well I will weigh the fork tonight when I get home. Probable worth building up to try out. I will have to start looking for parts.

Masi sold & had a California shop owning the name , years ago.

If the BB is not 36mm it's probably not Italian made.

You are leaving out decades of history. One of the most important details is the name was not sold, it was "a right to do business as" a license, a lease if you will.
One of the reasons for the creation of Medici by Bill Recht.
The contract may have been revised at some point later, but Faliero was still getting royalties in the 90's.

I am very sure this frame has Italian threading and either a 27.0 or 27.2 seat post size.
You have to go to the Haro managed era and Asia sourcing to find ISO "English" threading.

27.2 NR Campy seat post came off that bike.

Bike as found, mix of Bulls eye hubs, Shimano 600 tricolor, some Campy, TTT stem,, etc.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8026/7...67e050e9_b.jpg

Kind of homely looking.

The saddle and bars don't help much in that pic.

+1 Maybe the only reason it was still available when I bought it.

HEY!
During one of my visits here on BF I read where someone liked the ride of the Gran Corsa even though it is a 3 tier frame set. So I decided to start throwing parts on it to try it out when it warms up. this is what it looks like at the moment:
[IMG]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7513/...eb9d94fe_b.jpgP1020687 by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]

Campy SR HS, NR post, NR BB and NR Cranks/rings, pinch bolt, Dimension stem(ugh), Cinelli bars, Superbe brake set, Campy hubs and rims (tubular Hardox Strada in aero config NOS) with Gatorskins, Flite Ti saddle and @rootboy frame strap.