[CR]Falcon Merckx

(Example: Framebuilders:Mario Confente)

From: "NIGEL LAND" <ndland@btinternet.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 19:44:51 +0100
Subject: [CR]Falcon Merckx

So, my first foray, in earnest, into this august forum. Falcon had an agreement with Merckx c.1972/74, which was based on a price per transfer - £1 per set. This was like a royalty. Frank Clements agreed the deal and then Ernie (ever optimistic) doubled the quantity. I have several photos of Eddy and Co visiting the Falcon factory in Barton and I am told he was quite happy with the quality. While my main interest is writing a history of the Elswick-Hopper company, it inevitably impacts on Coventry Eagle/Falcon, as they moved to Barton in 1968. I have no evidence that Falcon cheated on materials as Dale suggests, though I agree that Ernie was a wheeler dealer. Perhaps he, or others can substantiate this claim of Falcon 'lead pipe' Merckx frames? I would also be interested in hearing from subscribers off-list, of any Falcon or Elswick-Hopper bikes with frame numbers. I am confident with dating E-H frames but struggle with Falcon.

Nigel Land

In a message dated 7/5/2005 4:08:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Carb7008@cs.com writes:

<< I'm a little suspicious anyway ever since I bought a "vintage" Eddy Merckx in the Bay Area for 80 bucks a couple of years ago when I was still green.

After getting it home, I could find no provinance, frame weighed and "rang" like a lead pipe. I later learned that these counterfeits were/are common in Italy for the unsuspecting. Nice-lookin' frame though. >>

More likely it was a Falcon made, legitimately licensed bike. In addition to full-on pro models, they also made a full range including

cheap models, all the way down to $150 bicycles, and Falcon was famous for placing Reynolds 531 stickers on frames not necessarily having all that......

Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC USA