One, this is Peter Grenader under a new moniker. The other email address of peterg@ixpres.com has passed, and I have re-emerged with a new address, expressly for the cr list posts. I apologize to anyone who may have written to me in the last two weeks - while I could see the mail on that old address, I was unable to send any back.
Second subject:
Falcon was not the only people licensed to make Merckx bikes in the early seventies. Schmitty has told me there were three, and one of those I know along with Falcon was Allegro.
You may see catalog pictures and descriptions of the Allegro flavored Merckx's on the http://www.allegrobikes.com site, in the catalog section (open the 1970's full line catalog pdf). They went so far as to put a photo of Merckx on the cover.
tootles,
Peter Grenader
sunny LA