CyclesMakaron

"... not everyone starts right away from the white album ..."

- first, well-released catalog (and actually a guide on the factory EM Cycles - 12 pages:
- 1 : correct logo (colored stripes are interchanged, confused etc. - see stickers, t-shirts and gadgets on eBay i.e.)
- 2 : photo and merit list
- 3 : Cannibal and introduction
- 4 /5 : we start sightseeing and we watch people at work: few people, work a lot.
- 6/7 : it starts to be interesting: on the top left - the final finishing positions of frames, that is where the frames and forks were marked with all factory markings ( Decoding of Eddy Merckx frames ); below: two attentive men and a BB cover "=" Romani style; next to: SSC "signature"; on top right: bicycle assembly station - in 1980-1982 EMC sold only ready bikes (with Campagnolo Super Record gruppo).
- 8 : top right - "long" lugs"; at the bottom: a draft directly copied from the De Rosa catalog.
- 9 : legendary photo: 5 bikes (short lugs), proud owner of the factory and 2 versions of the logo in the background.
- 10/11 : Eddy Merckx road bike i track bike ( short lugs, SSC "signature" or flat )
- 12 : adress Quiz: what is missing in the EMC factory? paint room ... at the beginning of the activity (and as you can see a bit later too) EM bike were painted outside the factory - knows where? In the report from March / April 1981, a frames painting at the EMC factory is already written, but there are no photos.
Based on visible details (or not visible yet - SSC "logo" i.e.), this publication can be dated ~ February 1981.
t.b.c.

CyclesMakaron

The next three releases are on the cover of Eddy Merckx riding on an orange (Molteni) wonder:

- leaflet / insert: Only 4 pages - the most important page 2/3: beautiful red EM (Professional) classic version - on the fourth: flat fork crown detail, SSC EM "logo", guides on top BB cover and people at work. Dating: spring 1981

- serious catalog, although it has only six pages, but more information than in "white album":

- 2: on top - Chrono (Pista) in Faema colors; on the bottom - EM 3-Athlete, Campagnolo gruppo (rather Victory than Triomphe);
- 3/4: yellow EM (Professional) modified version, Campagnolo Super Record equipment ( more or less Europ Decor 1984 )
- 5: 2 frame types: Team Issue and (Professional) modified version, see: Eddy Merckx Professional 1980 - 1986;
- 6 - trinkets as in the previous + slope fork crown.

- Trivia: EMC started selling framesets from 1983 (which saved him from bankruptcy).
- no release date, but judging from the presence of Team Issue frames (~ E9550) and EM 3-Athlete (~ A400) and the absence of EM late version and Pro SLX / 753 it was released in autumn 1984 (for the 1984/1985 seasons).

- another serious catalog, six pages:

- 2: on top - Chrono (Road) in Faema colors ( Campa SR ); on the bottom EM Corsa early, like 3-Athlete earlier.
- 3/4: yellow EM Pro SLX, Campa SR gruppo ( if it was a C-Record it would fit Team Lotto 1986 ).
- 5: EM Pro SLX x 2 ( C-Record 1 ver. - Panasonic 1986 "camo" / "cable in top tube" and Kelme 1986 "camo" / 3 guides on top tube ). The absolute hit is pedals in EM Pro SLX Kelme: Systeme 3 / Adidas STI - reportedly launched on the market after obtaining the U.S. patent in ... 1988 - so rather not ...
- last page - no changes.


Dating: all circumstantial evidence - models, equipment, "camo" and the lack of "golden box" stickers - indicate that the catalog could be made at the earliest in autumn 1985 (for the 1986 season).
t.b.c.

CyclesMakaron

- Black / Yellow catalog - the most serious of all (8 pages), at last some information, descriptions etc.

- 1: the shaking work of Claude Le Boul, dated 1986, on a black background - a strong start
- 2: on top: Corsa Extra in team manner, C-Record 2 version groupset, classic lettering for the highest models,
bottom: Corsa 2 gen (short lugs), Chorus 1 gen. groupset, "old" lettering, preserved flat fork crown.
- 3 :the mood of hard work and ... the paint room is finally shown (in it "Panasonic's" and "Kelme's" 86/87).
- 4: frames: from the left - Corsa Extra, Corsa, Corsa Extra, Pro 753, trivia identifying: brake bridge Gipiemme "cube", flat fork crown, clamp-on FD (Corsa - continuation of EM Professional); brake bridge Silva "flat bottom", SSC EM '"logo", "camo" 1985, no "golden box" sticker, no chroming (Pro 753); brake bridge Silva "arch bottom", lettering EDDY MERCKX characteristic of the top model. The captions for the photographs refer to a different page; Strada is described as a novelty!
- 5: frames: from the left - Corsa, Corsa Extra, Pista, Criterium; without sensation - outside of lettering used in 1985 and 86 (large, thin letters EDDY MERCKX); signatures again not for this photo, Corsa described as the second novelty.
....at the very bottom of the page, the listed add-ons / options.
- 6: sign the order / contract in the most pleasant possible environment and various things with the appropriate inscriptions.
- 7: on top: Criterium, C-Record (Delta) 2 gen groupset; bottom: Strada, Victory S3 groupset.
- 8: Chrono for a happy ending.

Dating: Corsa 2 ver. and Strada is the beginning of 1987, Victory S3 and Chorus 1 gen is rather spring / summer 1987 - on the other hand there is no sign of 3-colored "camo" (Hitachi, ADR) or green-white Kelme - I think summer 1987 should be the closest to the truth.

CyclesMakaron

CyclesMakaron

CyclesMakaron

CyclesMakaron

old offtheback

Killer information, thanks.

CMAW 

What is solder-free microfusion welding? That BB isn't welded, is it?