One possibility...
Could simply be that back in those days many builders expected the end-reseller
to prep the frame upon a sale.
I.e., a quick flex-hone of the seatube and lube followed by a test seatpost insertion to check for smoothness.
Colorado Cyclist supposedly honed the seatube followed by a catwhatever re- treatment and also cleaned the BB threads among other things BEFORE shipping my
Tommasini frame to me.
Maybe nowadays nothing is assumed and it gets done at the factory?
Robert Shackelford San Jose, CA USA
Quoting John Hurley <JHurley@jdabrams.com>:
> Jan wrote about the Merckx "quizzler" bike photo:
>
> "...raising the saddle exposed some truly ugly scratch marks." (on the
> seat post).
>
> It is interesting to me that this professional-grade bike had a flaw
> that would not be tolerated today. Even kid's bikes have seat posts
> that fit like pistons these days. My 1977 PX-10LE was also murder on
> seat posts, and up until a few years ago I just thought having scratched
> seat posts was part of the natural order of the universe. Things are
> much better since I got busy and cleaned up inside the seat lug.
>
> This raises some points. Apparently, this particular aspect of bicycle
> construction and finish wasn't seen as a priority back then, at least by
> some builders and mechanics. Was this more characteristic of racing vs.
> touring frames? or frames of certain brands or countries? I would
> suspect it all came down to the builder, regardless of the frame's
> purpose or country of origin. Or perhaps the builder assumed this sort
> of detail should be left to the mechanic who assembled the bicycle.
> Where or by whom were the Eddy Merckx frames built?
>
> John Hurley
> just curious in
> Austin, Texas, USA
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
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