styggno1

Thanks!

Daunting maybe but not overwhelming. Take into consideration the time span - from the mid eighties til now. I am sorry but it is impossible to answer how many hours - as the bikes have come to me in such different state. The last bit is easy - it takes longer and longer. In the beginning I had no money and a lot of time. Today it is the opposite. As I do everything on the bikes myself time is the "bottle neck" (do you have that expression in English?). Time is the problem. Work, family, life, other hobbies, etc.

I will retire in ten years time (early) and then I will indulge in my hobbies full time (bikes being one of them). Number of tasks - no, since I got the hang of building wheels in the 80ies there is nothing I cannot do since then. There are things though that I no longer do because there are quality short cuts now. When I started out there was no (known to me - pre internet) sources for decals other than the original maker. I had to fabricate my own decals - today I do not need to as there are good sources for it.

This was one of my early projects. As I wrote earlier - people over here thought I was crazy - restoring a bike only just over ten years old (at the time). Paint, lug- and box lining, decals by me. This picture is actually a scan of an actual photograph as it was taken before digital cameras.



PS - I actually do not braze anymore either. My brother does it as he is a pro in that area.

gugie 

Hey @jyl, you see this yet? Same year as yours?

jyl

Same era, early 1960s. Not sure of the model, could be a "Team" (top model) or a model below mine.

styggno1

Nope. Not early.

This one is somewhat of a mysterium. That is why I in my SOTC-list put it as a 1965-70 Specialissima "team" (not to be confused with "team issued"). "Team" being what I believe a US term for a Specialissima without head badge and with a celeste paint job. It has a serial that starts with 165.

The somewhat common point of view seem to be that frames with numbers starting with 160 to 164 are almost year correct in relation to the last two numbers. Then it seems to get complicated. There are some that put forward that 165: s were produced in a batch - then painted, decaled and equipped by demand. There are many examples of bikes with 165 obviously of later date than 1965. All the way up till circa 1971-2. Mine is probably one of those.

When looking at the Campagnolo parts it came with (there were some very modern parts also) they all sort of fall into the same period. No date crank arms, no circlip front derailleur, normal reach (nowadays long) brakes with text, long reach, curved brake levers, etc. If original to the bike it would put it somewhere round 1970 - which corresponds with the headset as it is of the integral type known to be of late sixites. Decals - not 1965. Does not however explain the rear brake bridge. If it would have been brazed in 1965 - Campagnolos normal reach (again - today considered long reach) would not fit. It is a mysterium - if I cannot find evidence of it being resprayed very early. There are contradicting clues here. At some parts of the frame the paint is very thick. Yet is is sort of "right" at other places. Without ruining the paint I cannot come closer to the truth - and I do not want to mess with it too much. A fair guess - as good as any other (often applies to old Italian bikes) - a bike originally made in 1965, not built up and sold much later (around 70-71) and maybe they moved the rear brake bridge and gave it a new spray layer and decals. We will never know for sure.

smontanaro 

My guess is that's the silver one. In his bike list, he lists three Masi Prestiges (Prestigi?), and shows red, blue and silver/champagne in his images. Also, that silver-ish one looks to have at least modern rear derailleur and too many sprockets for me to count. (Above six, my brain just jumps to "many".)
@styggno1 I only wish you lived closer so I could try to talk you out of something. Several look to be my size.

styggno1

Yes, it is the "Champagne"/silver one.

Frame ordered directly from Alberto at the Vigorelli velodrome and you can find the story here (click one "show more" to get to the text part):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/453061...57624536225450

I built it up with a 8 speed Record group I had on the shelf. The group is nice and user friendly but usually the group is not the part that gets people going...



It is this part:




Coppi saddle and Masi panto seatpost.



Masi pantographed stem.



It is a wonderful bike and built to use. Not that I do it a lot but there is nothing sacred about it.

You are welcome over here but I do not start selling bikes for about 10 to 15 years...

PS - and I know... There is no ferrule at the wire stop. I was out of them when buildning it up. Still not there... Works just fine.

ThermionicScott 

Welcome to the forum, @styggno1. Those are some beautiful bikes, and you were prescient in scooping up all that NR/SR when it was cheap!

MZilliox

That Monarch is so sweet! really great collection, thanks for sharing and welcome!

Cougrrcj

I'm more of the chrome 'socks' era myself... Not just fork ends, but rear triangle ends as well. Very Classy. When exactly WAS that, anyway... WHY did that stop???

Bikerider007

Great collection and welcome. You seem to have had a good eye on what was to come. Your input will be valued and there are a great number of resourceful individuals here that can return the favor. Myself not so much included :-)

styggno1

Imagine how fast you would be on one of these (picture borrowed from a forum member @55/Rad but I do not know if it is his bike) - chrome lugs AND forks. Full chrome I believe does not make me faster though - as it would be so pretty I would forget pedaling...



This model Bottecchia frame has eluded me thru the years. I have been close of getting one a couple of times but no luck yet.

55/Rad

Nope - ^^^ - not mine. Though I always wish it was. It was however, the inspiration for this one .

styggno1

Ohhh mmmm... Shiny. Preciousssssss!