Musickjr

Where can I find the serial numbers or country of origin identification numbers on an old steel masi. I know it was purchased sometime between 1968 and 1973

machinist42

OP's Album.

Spaghetti Legs 

Hovey Masi

styggno1

What appears to be a non slotted Fisher fork crown (cannot see the rear of it) paired with a "M" cut out on BB shell and "spoon" seat stay cap makes me put it at the earliest - late 1971. + a couple of years. Equipment are not a good thing when it comes to dating bikes because it can lay on shelves some time before being used and/or have been changed during the many years of use - but yours has some that at least are leads to dating it - together with the frame. The headset "<C>"-marking, long reach curved brake handles, what looks (picture is not very clear) like a front derailleur without circlip all points to a 1971-73 bike. (Edit the front der. does seem to have a lip at the front but even if so the part mounted to the frame is clearly the old part without reinforcements and grove for circlip.)

The head tube decal (with white surrounding the upper crest-figures) is put at cirka 1973 by Bob Hovey. The decal was used both in Italy and the US.

What letter is before the "55" on the bottom bracket shell? It does look like an "M". If your frame is US made or Italian made is difficult to know because of the above dating. But I will go for Italian made.

Here a quote from Bob Hovey again:

"Perhaps we should begin with the easy cases. If you own a Masi from 1972 or earlier (this would be an early Gran Criterium, Masi Special strada or pista, or a Masi Speciale Corsa) then it is Italian, end of story. If you like Masi bikes and the whole mystique of Faliero "The Tailor" Masi and the tiny shop under the Vigorelli, and you are annoyed by any trace of ambiguity, then these are the bikes for you (OK, so some of the Gran Criteriums were subcontracted to other builders, but they were all Italian and from shops in northern Italy where Faliero could keep an eye on production quality).

In 1973, Masi production began in the US, first under the guidance of Faliero Masi, later under Mario Confente. These bikes began as nearly identical reproductions of the Italian twin-plate Gran Criteriums that were being produced in Italy at the time, but while the Italian models only have a frame size stamped on the bottom bracket (with a one or two letter prefix) and perhaps a matching size stamp and date stamp on the steering tube, the US Masis were serial numbered with only a small handful of exceptions. So here's another easy case: If you find yourself in possession of a Gran Criterium with both a frame size stamp (prefix A, MC, SMC or M) and a serial number, then it is a US-built Masi. The serial number could be two, three or four digits or four digits with an A-D prefix. For more specific information on Masi USA serial numbers, go here."

repechage

1971, maybe early 1972. Vigorelli product. No question to me.
note the braze on pip for the pump, that appeared in 1971, by late 1972 was gone as Silca created the frame fit pump handle. (introduced for 1973, but Masi got them early)
looks repainted. the background field of the heralds and downtube transfers is probably the original color.
unfortunate chrome.
if you drop the fork, there will most likely be a month and year stamping on the steerer.
Nice bike
might be Columbus tubed, cannot tell from the type of oval of the fork blades, Reynolds was narrower than Columbus at this time.

date codes or lack thereof might suggest if original parts such as cranks or derailleur, front mech if original will not have a circlip.

This is a good size to resell, and while in rough shape, there will be more money than sense chasing it.

repechage

Those crank arms appear like what ital-Vega did for a short time on the Superlight.

I do not think original. Drilling crank arms?
coffeehouse run bike