David Benson wrote:
>
> Allegro also made Eddy Merckx branded bikes at one time.
> >From a previous discussion of this topic on the list, I got the impression that
> Kessels perhaps sub-contracted to Falcon to build Merckx bikes.
>
> Does anyone on the list know when Merckx branded bikes first appeared?
> Presumably Eddy or his team was deriving some income from use of the Eddy Merckx
> name & logo to justify the Eddy Merckx branding of Faema & later team bikes.
>
> My understanding is that Masi supplied frames to Faema, Colnago did the same for
> Molteni until De Rosa took over in 1973. Photos suggest that Eddy continued to
> ride some Colnago built frames in 1973.
>
> I also recall someone on the list suggesting that Ugo de Rosa built some of
> Eddy's Peugots.
>
> DB
David,
From the examples I have seen over the years, Falcon built crummy Eddy Merckx-licensed bikes and Kessels built very nice Eddy Merckx-licensed bikes.
I would _guess_ the Merckx bikes (Eddy licensing his name) appeared around 1969 (Eddy's big year); only a guess. Eddy and only Eddy would derive income from licensing his name and he would make much more this way with endorsements than with his race winnings. He gave his TdF winnings to his team mates for example.
I very much doubt that De Rosa built any bikes painted as Peugeots. Eddy didn't have a relationship with Ugo De Rosa that early in his career.
All of the above is just my opinion however!!!
Regards,
Chuck Schmidt
South Pasadena, Southern California
http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, T-shirts and Campagnolo Timeline)