Brandon Ives wrote:
>
> On Wednesday, April 2, 2003, at 11:43 PM, Chuck Schmidt wrote:
> > Eddy's first catalog for his own bikes was 1980. I sell a reproduction
> > of it on my web site http://www.velo-retro.com.
>
> So were these frames built in Belgium or Italy? I didn't think he got
> the Belgium factory up
> and running until '82-'83.
The 1980 Merckx brochure shows his factory exterior and interior and frames being made.
Ugo De Rosa's involvement in the Merckx factory was proudly noted in the catalog by the way. Here's some of the text from the brochure:
"Eddy Merckx dominated national and international cycling for almost two decades. During that time he spent innumerable hours in the Italian workshops of master bicycle builder, Ugo De Rosa.
Eddy Merckx always knew precisely what changes and modifications he wanted in his racing machines and encouraged by De Rosa, was soon completely involved in their design and construction. His knowledge grew from year to year and victory to victory. It was therefore only natural that the champion racer and the champion builder should eventually combine their talents. Ugo De Rosa came to Belgium and helped Eddy Merckx install his ultra-modern workshops in Meise, just outside Brussels. Their combination of unparalleled experience and uncompromising craftsmanship is your guarantee of perfection.
Eddy Merckx's dedication to his work is such that his home and his workshops are in the same grounds."
There are twelve photos of the interior of his factory.
A friend visited Eddy Merckx at his factory soon after startup and ordered a custom frame and the fork ends of that bike were engraved "De Rosa".
Chuck Schmidt L.A. http://www.velo-retro.com (Merckx catalog, reprints, timeline & t-shirts)
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