1973 Italian Confente_Crema #1

These pictures were taken to document the condition of the bike upon receipt. To me it showed that the bike was ridden hard but not abused.
I was told that this bike and one other that I received were built by Mario for a friend and team-mate of his (local club team?). Also that it had been built in 1973, most of the dated parts seem to back that up. the bottom bracket and steering tube are both stamped with a number "1". I think this means that this was the first bike he built once he had decided on the graphics and spade cut-outs (the over all look) he wanted for the bike to be marketed under his own name. This bike was not the first he ever built besides the ones he built under contract for other builders, like Masi. The other Confente I received is a earlier build (estimate 1970-71), it doesn't feature the spade cut outs, it had been repainted, so I have no idea what the original graphics (if any) looked like.

As to how many other Confentes were built in italy with the Confente decals, I have no idea, but I don't think it would be many because Mario came over to the US in 1973 with Faliero Masi. During that year would he not have been making bikes under contract to Faliero, so how much time could he of had to market and construct bikes under his own name, prior to the move?

As to whether the italian Confentes would affect the value (or selling price) of a US Confente, I don't think so. As to the value of a italian built Confente, that would have to be determined by the market. I have no intention of ever selling mine, so I don't know how it can be evaluated without another one been sold on the open market. To me this one (Crema Confente, or #1) is just as desirable as a US Confente, if not more, at least until others turn up.