Re: [CR]Early Eddy Merckx Corsa Strada ... what year and who built it?

(Example: Framebuilders)

In-Reply-To: <5440a0c40705011034s74754c83p3404373de900e395@mail.gmail.com>
References: <5440a0c40705011034s74754c83p3404373de900e395@mail.gmail.com>
From: "Jeremy Rauch" <classic2@cadre.org>
Subject: Re: [CR]Early Eddy Merckx Corsa Strada ... what year and who built it?
Date: Tue, 1 May 2007 14:01:15 -0400
To: CR <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>


I keep telling myself I should post this info to the CR list -- seems like a good time...

Over the last year or two I've been collecting Merckx serial numbers in an effort to decipher them. I've pretty much figured out the scheme for 1985+. Prior to '85, the scheme isn't as easy, if it exists at all -- the serials may just be sequential.

The first letter (A) refers to the model. This frame predates the Corsa designation, which would have a C. It may be the Professional Road model. The E is in the position where the date code later is -- but most pre-85 Merckx I've seen have an E, and a variety of claimed dates.

Anyhow, the serial list, information about how the serial numbers are arranged, and some other interesting information at:

http://www.cadre.org/Merckx/

I'm under no delusion that I have everything figured out, so corrections + additions are much appreciated.

Jeremy Rauch Brooklyn, NY USA

On May 1, 2007, at 1:34 PM, gene wrote:
> I've tried in the past to see if anyone knew how to decipher a Merckx
> serial number, but couldn't find out anything. I was able to get
> some
> definitive information about my Merckx track bike by writing to the
> workshop in Belgium. It took them a long time to get back
> to me, but they did in the end. So you might try that. I am not sure
> if they were able to help me out because of the serial number, though,
> or
> because of other identifying characteristics.
>
> Looking at the photos of your friend's bike, I would say it is
> definitely not earlier than 1981. The very earliest Merckx bikes have
> Eddy's signature
> reproduced on the seat stay caps, but by 1981 they had the EM logo on
> the seat stays, just like your bike has.
> Other clues to the date: your bike has the flat fork crown, which is
> the earlier style -- some time in the early-to-mid '80s they switched
> to a sloping
> fork crown. And, though I am not 100% sure of this, I think the
> "Handmade in Belgium" stickers were not applied to the downtube until
> the mid-80s.
> My 1981 bike doesn't have one, and it looks like yours doesn't either.
> So I am guessing your bike is from the early 1980s, but no earlier
> than 1981.
>
> Gene Balk
> Seattle, wA
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp
> Filename=classicrendezvous.10704.1567.eml
> From: FujiFish1(AT)aol.com
> Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:51:36 EDT
> Subject: [CR]Early Eddy Merckx Corsa Strada ... what year and who
> built it? <http://search.bikelist.org/query.asp?SearchString=%
> 22Early+Eddy+Merckx+Corsa+Strada+%2E%2E%2E+what+year+and+who+built
> +it%3F%22&SearchPrefix=%40msgsubject&SortBy=MsgDate%5Ba%5D>
>
> <http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/fujifish1/FriendsBikes/ToddS/
> Merckx/>
>
> This bike was purchased as a frameset (with headset) by a local
> friend, he
> thinks in about 1979 or 1980. The components used definitely do
> NOT reflect
> date of frame, as they were all added by my friend (including the
> Modolo
> decal on
> the downtube, and the shifters which I purchased from Baron,
> several years
> ago).
>
> Can anyone confirm the model name, nail down a year of build, and
> name of the
> actual builder of these frames at that time, please?
>
> There are two pages of pics, but I forgot to take two specific
> shots: front
> view of head tube, and underside of bottom bracket. The serial
> numbers are,
> loosely: 7 A 3545 E.
>
> Anyone? Thanks for the help!
>
> Ciao,
> Mark Agree
> Southfield MI USA