Re: [CR]Fiat Racing Team and Merckx Question(s)?

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

From: "Chuck Schmidt" <chuckschmidt@earthlink.net>
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR]Fiat Racing Team and Merckx Question(s)?
References: <5D7622C111F78A4C8A27817E18BBAEB70136B6@mlsswn02p.WAS.INT.IMF.ORG>
Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2002 09:40:46 -0700

Wayne Bingham wrote:
>
> >>>When did Merckx start putting his own name on the downtube? Does
> anyone know whether the frames made before 1980 used a different
> headbadge than the ones produced after he started his own framebuilding
> business? Lou Deeter, Orlando FL<<<
>
> It is my understanding that Merckx started building his own frames (uh,
> producing frames under his name in his own shop**) in 1980, and that Ugo
> De Rosa helped him set up that operation. Merckx subsequently produced
> a "10th Anniversary" frame in 1990 and a "20th Anniversary" frame in
> 2000, commemorating his start in 1980. The first frames produced were
> practically identical to De Rosa frames of the era.

The first frames from the shop even used "De Rosa" stamped fork ends!
> This doesn't really answer Lou's question, which I am also curious
> about. Did De Rosa produce frames for Eddy, bearing his name, prior to
> 1980?

Kind of a trick question, but Eddy Merckx's race bikes beginning in 1972 were made by Ugo De Rosa and had Eddy Merckx decals on them. Previous to 1972 they were Ernesto Colnagos and before the they were Faliero Masis.

Chuck Schmidt SoPas, SoCal

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