Re: [CR]1st eddy merckx

(Example: Framebuilders:Rene Herse)

To: hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk
Cc: WBINGHAM@imf.org, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 09:38:04 -0500
Subject: Re: [CR]1st eddy merckx
From: "Richard M Sachs" <richardsachs@juno.com>


at the 1979 milan bicycle show, eddy merckx and ugo derosa hared a booth and it was there that eddy merckx, the 'bicycle company', was introduced. the eddy merckx frames shown there were clearly derosa built; diamond shaped chainstays, dubois lugs, flat crown with cast-in heart removed and 'eddy merckx' engraved in its place, etcetera. no question about these frame's origins. within a year, the factory in meise would be up and running and production moved to belgium. next to the lace, and chocolate. i was at the show with len preheim and he ordered several dozen first gen. merckx frames for his toga store. we, (len, me, ugo, and eddy), were behind the booth in the faux-office for about an hour while len negotiated his deals. two days prior, the two of us were in cusanino milano at derosa's home/workshop getting the cook's tour. where does the time go? e-RICHIE

On Tue, 06 Nov 2001 13:56:54 +0000 Hilary Stone <hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk> writes:
> Real Eddy Merckx frames I think were first built from about 1978 (as
> opposed
> to the Falcon and Kessels). De Rosa was apparently a personal friend
> of Eddy
> and helped set up the factory. It seems possible that he might have
> also
> supplied some of the early frames. The early Merckxs are very De
> Rosa in
> appearance.
>
> Regards
>
> Hilary Stone, in warm again (16°C) Bristol
>
> Wayne Bingham wrote:
> > Merckx produced a 10th Anniversary frame in 1990 and a 20th
> Anniversary
> > frame in 2000. It was my understanding that those frames
> commemorated 10
> > and 20 years respectively, of Merckx building his own frames. I
> believe
> > that frames sold with the Merckx name before 1980 were built by
> others.
> >
> Paul Patzkowsk wrote:
> >> I would guess that the first Eddy Merckx frames came out in '74
> or close
> > to
> >> that. Chris VanGent (sp) of Big Wheel in Denver donated one to
> the Denver
> >> Wheelmen when they sponsored one of the first two Miller Classics
> in
> > Denver.
> >> The frame was first prize.
> >>
> >>y, a former Denver Wheelman
> >
> >
> > Would that be the frames from Eddy Merckx's own factory or the
> frames
> > built under licensing by others?
> >
> > Chuck Schmidt, a former Pasadena Athletic Associationist