Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 21:01:55 EDT From: FujiFish1@aol.com To: ndland@btinternet.com Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Ernie Clements Falcon Special (and San Remo too) Message-ID: <7b.4d33eea5.30577f03@aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Precedence: list Message: 9
I'm jumping in on this thread, because I too have a (still dirty) old beast, of similar description but likely a lower model. Mine is a SAN REMO model, with Campagnolo VELOX components. Just like Bill, I'm interested to know the year of offer, if possible. Does have a 531 decal. I took some quick PICs of it so that the basics can be seen. Light was waning, but I think the idea gets across:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
Remember to click on a thumb, then click on the pic it reveals, in order to see the larger and much clearer versions. (Do I need to keep adding this, each time I supply a link to the Wool Jersey Gallery?)
Nigel? ... anybody? ... know the date?
Thanks so much!
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield MI US ~ ~ ~
Bill Roberts wrote:
I'll have to forward some further info and links to pics later (good digicam is down for a week or so, will do some basic photos with the vid cam). Wondering if anyone knows anything about this particular model. Falcon 'Special'. Has a painted head badge 'designed by Ernie Clements'. Nice lugs, Simplex components, and 27" wheels w/high pressure tires. Classic light blue. Perhaps late 60's. Standard Falcon script decals. Cotter crank. GB alloy bar/stem, Condor seat. Probably not 531 or the like, but not gaspipe either. Looks like a mid-line city/touring bike. Good shape throughout, all original. Thanks in advance.
Bill Roberts Jacksonville, OR
Nigel Land replied:
Bill, I may have a fix on your Falcon as it sounds like it could be an
early one made in Smethwick, Birmingham. Please check the headbadge for
an address and let me know what lugs it has - should be Nervex. If you
contact me off list I should be able to furnish an original spec, once
we have fixed the date of manufacture.
Nigel Land
North Lincs
UK
Guys, I need frame numbers, models and guesses on dates for Falcon bikes
as there seems to be interest in cracking the date code (assuming there
is one). I know Dale has had many through his hands and there must be a
lot of survivors in the US. A letter was used with a series of numbers
but it is difficult to make sense of the few I have on record already.
In case you are wondering why I want to do this, it sort of fits in with
the Elswick-Hopper research I am doing as Falcon was part of the group
from 1977 to 1992.
So, Mark, the earliest San Remo I have a catalogue for is 1966, before
the company moved to Barton. Not sure when the range was introduced, but
by '66 there were 5 different models, including Equipe, Mk II, Sprint
and Pursuit. Ernie used a variety of lugs and in '66 featured Prugnat,
'Specialist Lugs cut and filed to our design' and 'long point
Continental Lugs', for the different San Remo models. All Cotterless. I
would guess that the San Remo on Mark's site is a few years earlier. I
am fairly sure that the first Falcon dates from 1954/5, when Ernie
emerged from a failed business in Shropshire to work for Roberts Cycle
Industries in Smethwick, near Birmingham. He introduced the Falcon,
based on prior experience with his Ernie Clements range. When Coventry
Eagle took over the factory in 1957 he became Works Director and not
long after the move to Lincolnshire in 1968, MD. It appears that Ernie
was also responsible for the first ever training camp in Majorca in
1966.
Bill, I am sure your frame is not 531 if it is seam welded but I have
heard of welded tubing being used, anyone know what material it would
be?
Nigel ( I would be happy for someone else to take on Falcon) Land
Barton on Humber
UK