Falcons and Eddys (was:Re: [CR]Eddy Merckx (?) 1975

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

From: <ABikie@aol.com>
Subject: Falcons and Eddys (was:Re: [CR]Eddy Merckx (?) 1975
To: zzdhalla@ozemail.com.au, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2002 07:20:59 EST

In a message dated 10/29/2002 4:25:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, zzdhalla@ozemail.com.au writes:


>
> I have just obtained a bike frame that was reputed to be a "Eddy Merckx". I
>
> realise that if it was bought in 1975 it was not but it would be one of the
>
> bikes built with his name on it.
> How can I identify the maker of this frame. All original paint is burried
> inder a spray can repaint! It was originally candy apple red. It had chrome
>
> forks again the has candy apple red tops. It came fully equipt with campag
> gear but much of that has been lost or altered. It has Campag drop outs and
>
> the headstem fillet has 3 holes in the top rear extension on the top tube
> and
> 4 in the lower tube. These holes decrease in size as the fillet thins to a
> point. Originally it had no braze-ons. It was modernised inthe mid 80's.
>
> I do not think it is a falcon.
> From my very limited knowledge it seems that it could be by Monteni or
> Allegro.
> Any ideas or clues appreciated.
>

we have two Falcon/Mercks bikes from the 70's in the stash. Having been a Falcon owner and an original hanger-out at Proteus during their days as the Falcon importer (when lunchtime turned the workbenches into pi ta,sprout, tea, and herb buffet counters) I became quite familiar with the line. The Merckx was most akin to being a mustard-painted version of the San Remo '76. Nothing to do with the year, as the '76 was available when I got my Zeus-Equipped mod. 94. Anyway, at the same time, our shop down the street, a schwinn and dabbling import dealer, brought in one or two Mexican bikes marqued 'Eddy Merckx' with His likeness on the headbadge and seat tube pasnel, similar graphics to the Falcon and later the 90's replicas reported to be made in Belgium. These Mexican machines were considered gaspipe junk according to a quote from one of the veteran shop employees with their 'cold chisel' lugs, rippling paint, and stamped steel dropouts and other crude parts. They came in the colors of the boom- candy red, popsicle purple, team orange, and maybe another.

Not the greatest example of the bikemakers' art. One would be nice to have saved fopr the EM timeline in the collection, and I still seek one with original paint.

Larry Black