[CR]Melton tandem

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme)

Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:20:23 -0700
From: "Bob Sutterfield" <bob@sutterfields.us>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Melton tandem

Hello,

Last spring we took custody (via a Craigslist ad) of a red Melton tandem. Fillet brazed (except the lugged fork crown) with a Marathon lateral between the headset and the 140mm rear dropouts. 26.6mm seat tubes, which I'm told is a mutt spec because a standard box-o-pipes tube set (from two of which a tandem was assembled) didn't have enough of the right sizes. 1" steerer, Phil hubs, TA cranks, SunTour VX derailleurs setup 3x7 with bar-end shifters, Mafac cantilevers, Campy headset, Arai drum, it's all here.

It has no identifying marks other than the Melton decals on the down and boom tubes. No head badge. No tube decals from Reynolds etc. No serial numbers or dates or anything else stamped into the BB shells or anywhere else I can think to look.

It attracts attention wherever we go, more I think than a modern tandem would. It draws admiring looks and lots of questions, particularly from guys who are, shall we say, beyond their salad days.

Can anyone help me learn more about this lovely bike? When and where was Mike Melton building tandems, and how might I narrow down the period during which this was built?

Thanks for any info you can share!
--
Bob Sutterfield
Saratoga California USA