Actually, the flat crown was available even through 1990 (possibly beyond). While the first true Merckx-factory frames (1980) probably all had the flat crown, both the flat and the sloping crowns were in use by about 83 or 84. The type crown depended on the model. The 10th Anniversary model in 1990 even had the flat crown.
Wayne Bingham
Falls Church VA
>>>From: brianbaylis
Your bike is newer that the other bike, if I'm not mistaken. Don't know
the ages exactly, but I'm reasonably sure the flat crown is before the
more aero version rounded one.
I just got an Eddy Merckx frame that was purported to be a first year frame, 1980, from Carsten Rehbein. Then I had a customer bring in a frame which seems like it should have been made earlier. They both have similar earlier style decals, brake cable guides on top of the top tube, are made with SL tubing, and have the same bb shell, but there are some differences. Mine has the rounded sloping crown with the em logo that looks like a bicycle, seat stay caps with the same logo, cable guides under the bb, and crimped stay and fork ends. His has the flat De Rosa style crown with Eddy Merckx spelled out like the decal, seat stay caps with his signature, cable guides brazed on top of the bb, and brazed and filed stay and fork ends, and in addition he has a number
plate braze-on under his top tube. The lugs are slightly different too. The seat lug on mine has a bigger space between the ears of the seat post clamp.
Anyone know the ages of these two frames, or know Eddy Merckx serial numbers? Or are they just different models?
Thanks
Bob Freeman
Seattle