Masi Bits - Fork Crowns (Road bikes only, for now)
Italy, c. 1958 | Italy, c. 1961 | Italy, c. 1972 | Italy, 1972 | Italy,
1972-1975 USA, 1973-1974 |
The twin plate crown was notoriously hard to braze which may explain why it was not in use for very long. It is prized by collectors however. It appeared on the first 450 or so Carlsbad bikes, though a few rare examples appeared up to several years after. | Italy, c. 1973 | Italy, 1974-1975? USA, 1974-1976 |
USA, 1975-1976 | Italy, c. 1975 | Italy, 1976-1990's | USA, 1978-1982 | USA, 1983-1991 | USA, 1992-2000's | Italy, 1980's-1990's | Italy, 1990's | Italy, 2003 |
This Fischer crown appeared on most Masi frames for about two decades. |
This crown appeared on some Nervex-lugged Masis.
Some had Fischer crowns. Usually attributed to 1960-61, Nervex-lugged bikes may have been produced as late as 1964. Peter Rich's Masi ad in the Dec. '63 NCCA newsletter offered a choice of Nervex or Italian lugs. |
This slotted crown, when seen from above, could be mistaken for a Fischer
crown. But from the side you can see that it is much shallower and has a
flat spot for the brake. Note various fork blade stiffener cutouts begin around 1971, experimenting with several shapes, finally settling on three holes. |
The "Faux" twin plate crown was derived from a solid crown that was cut in two. | The twin plate crown appeared on both Italian and US Gran Criteriums. |
Fischer with slotted shoulders.
Earliest slots were hand cut and had slots of inconsistent width.
This crown appeared less and less after the introduction of the crown with the F. Masi crest, but examples still appear as late as 1978. |
Both Italy and the US returned to the Fischer crown that was in use before the "faux" and twin plate crowns. Italian use of plain Fischer at this time appears spotty... slot-shouldered examples were more common. | Slotted Fischer (occasional). More frequent on later Carlsbad GC's (after #1000) though a few appeared earlier. | Crest, no slot. Alberto's first investment cast crown, by Microfusione. | The mature design of the investment cast Italian crown (with crest and shoulder slot) remained in use for years with little variation. Note that while Alberto's signature appears on the fork blade (and on the top tube), the crest bears Faliero's initial. | Cinelli semi-sloping crown (model MC), Rancho Santa Fe and early San Marcos. |
Henry James crown with shoulder crest,
later San Marcos. Usually chromed with painted shoulder (as
above), occasionally all-chrome or all-paint.
|
Henry James (?) crown, usually painted, sometimes chromed. Seen here on a 1992 "Barcelona" 3V. | I wish I had more info
and better photos for these
"Fleur de Lis" crowns. Several variants appear over a
period of years: Top Left: Small triangular window 1984 Cronometer Top Right: Large triangular window 1991 3V(custom built) Bottom Left: "Masi" on single-point shoulder |
The shoulder design is
a stylized representation of the Duomo in Milan. |
Richie-issimo crown (and lugs) |