I just got an Eddy Merckx frame that was purported to be a first year frame, 1980, from Carsten Rehbein. Then I had a customer bring in a frame which seems like it should have been made earlier. They both have similar earlier style decals, brake cable guides on top of the top tube, are made with SL tubing, and have the same bb shell, but there are some differences. Mine has the rounded sloping crown with the em logo that looks like a bicycle, seat stay caps with the same logo, cable guides under the bb, and crimped stay and fork ends. His has the flat De Rosa style crown with Eddy Merckx spelled out like the decal, seat stay caps with his signature, cable guides brazed on top of the bb, and brazed and filed stay and fork ends, and in addition he has a number
plate braze-on under his top tube. The lugs are slightly different too. The seat lug on mine has a bigger space between the ears of the seat post clamp.
Anyone know the ages of these two frames, or know Eddy Merckx serial numbers? Or are they just different models?
Thanks Bob Freeman Seattle
Bob, The earliest brochure I have on Eddy shows a script signature seat stays and the flat DeRosa fork crown, with the cable guides on top of the bb
This brochure is from 1981 or 82 I picked It up before I bought my first Merckx in 84 (83 vintage) it is the same style as the one now on e-bay see item # 3651172733
Serial numbers are confusing on Eddy Merckx I have 2 with serial # on the bottom bracket no resemblance to a standard and two without a serial #
Chuck Johnston
Ft Collins Colorado