Richard M Sachs wrote:
>
> at the 1979 milan bicycle show, eddy merckx and
> ugo derosa hared a booth and it was there that
> eddy merckx, the 'bicycle company', was introduced.
> the eddy merckx frames shown there were clearly
> derosa built; diamond shaped chainstays, dubois lugs,
> flat crown with cast-in heart removed and 'eddy merckx'
> engraved in its place, etcetera. no question about these frame's
> origins. within a year, the factory in meise would be up and
> running and production moved to belgium. next to the lace,
> and chocolate.
> i was at the show with len preheim and he ordered several
> dozen first gen. merckx frames for his toga store.
> we, (len, me, ugo, and eddy), were behind the booth in the
> faux-office for about an hour while len negotiated his deals.
> two days prior, the two of us were in cusanino milano at
> derosa's home/workshop getting the cook's tour.
> where does the time go?
> e-RICHIE
I remember seeing some Eddy Merckx frames (from the Eddy Merckx factory) that had Campagnolo-style front fork ends that were stamped "De Rosa."
And the first Eddy Merckx brochure showed Ugo De Rosa and Eddy Merckx standing next to each other and mentions Ugo helping set up Merckx operation.
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
http://www.velo-retro.com (vintage bike catalogs reproductions including
the first Eddy Merckx brochure)