John,
The older "Merlin" is a British bike, I think possibly built by the Bob Jackson company. I think JRJ owned the rights to that name. It is not the Merlin titanium company!
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Seen Merlin steel bikes a few times in the "old days".
>
> Does the following ring any bells for anyone? Did Merlin ever make
> 531 bikes?
>
> ------- Forwarded message follows -------
> From: <namedeleted>@aol.com
> Date sent: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 23:12:22 EDT
> Subject: Old Campy Bike
> To: jeverett3@earthlink.net
>
> John,
>
> At the store I work at in Elmhurst, we are having a sidewalk sale -
> where customers are invited to bring in old bikes they have where
> we'll sell on consignment. One bike appears to be a 1970-71 Merlin
> (I didn't know they made bikes back then). Its a weird fuschia color
> small mens frame, Campy Record Ft. & Rr. der.'s (could be the first
> year for those), TA crankset, Campy high-flange hubs, sew up rims,
> SunTour bar-cons, 531 frame w/ Campy chrome-plated dropouts,
> Weinmann side-pull brakes. frame size is around 18".
>
> I told her I might know someone who was into the old bikes and
> parts. As it was in not great shape (spider webs, etc.), and would be
> difficult to sell at the sidewalk sale (since nobody there would know
> what it was), we didn't take it in. I did take her name and phone
> number just in case.
>
> If this is of interest to you, or you know anyone else that would be
> willing to inquire, she's <name and phone number deleted>, in
> Elmhurst. I wouldn't think she'd want her name or phone anywhere
> posted on the internet, so this would be private information only.
>
> - Dave
> ------- End of forwarded message -------
>
> jeverett3@earthlink.net (John V. Everett)