Kessels frame were also sold in the western US by then-Western States
Imports (now Diamondback) under the name "Main d'Or;" (Hand of Gold.) This
was around 1975-76. Visually pretty similar to the pictured frame.
David Feldman
Vancouver, WA
> In a message dated 11/11/2002 5:20:23 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> dirk.feeken@sap.com writes:
>
> << Another builder besides Falcon who built Merckx labeled frames under
> licence before Merckx started his own business was Kessels in Belgium. He
was
> the most regarded belgian builder and made also frames Eddy actually rode.
> I've sent a question about a (probably faked) 1971 Merckx labeled Kessels
to
> info@eddymerckx.be and got this response from Eddy's wife Claudine. They
> can't confirm the authenticity of any Merckx labeled Kessels (or Falcon,
> or..) just that Kessels has been a authorized licence builder during that
> time.
> >>
>
> I sold a few Kessels frames, labeled Merckx, back in 1973 or 74. They
were
> brought in by the Falcon/Merckx importer when the Falcon-made bikes were
in
> short supply due to the high demand of the Bike Boom. My impressions were
> that these Kessels frames were very well made, superior in workmanship to
the
> Falcon product of that time. The Falcon bike frame construction seemed
rushed
> and sloppy while the Kessels were very refined.
> The Kessels were also quite different design wise.. the wheel base was
> shorter , the seat stays were large diameter, the fork length cut from the
> bottom to yield a beefier diameter and the frame angles a tad more
upright..
> More Kermesse than stage race... Lugs were very nicely thinned and shaped,
> semi wrapover seat stay top eyes, box crown...
> Interestingly, I have an article somewhere in a early 1970s International
> Cycling magazine showing a picture of Eddy and "his frame builder Kessels"
> touring the Falcon factory preliminary to his signing an agreement of
> licensing...
>
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, North Carolina