"Barn Find" Merz bike RB057
#1
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Bikes: 1946 Holdsworth Cyclone, 1969 Cinelli SC, 1972 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Merz road bike, 1974 Alex Singer Sportif, 1974 Merz track bike, 1975 Teledyne Titan, 1976 Ritchey road bike, 1977 DiNucci built Merz track bike, 1977 (?) Exxon Graftek, many more!
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"Barn Find" Merz bike RB057
I just returned from Portland, to visit my son Carter and his family but also to pick up this Merz bike. The customer I made if for in 1975 had knee problems that meant he couldn't ride bikes after his surgery. He put the bike in his attic along with an extra pair of tubular wheels. Recently he was cleaning up his house , saw his old bike and got in touch with me about what to do with it. I agreed to obtain it sight unseen. It's like a time capsule, close to unridden. My build sheets start at GH064, which is dated January 24, 1976. So this bike most likely was built in 1975. 58cm C-T seat tube, 56cm C-C top tube. It's a racing design with mostly NR Campagnolo except for a SR headset and SL pedals and seat post. The saddle was changed, it came with an Avocet Racing III. The extra tubular wheels look like they were never used. Pino QR's and Zeus freewheel! With Clement Del Mondo tires that still hold air and look perfect! It has what looks like bat poop on the rear brake, with 40 some years of scum on the rest of the bike. The paint and decals look great. It's too small for me, but I'm going to clean it up before deciding where it's going to end up. I'm just sharing my find, it's not for sale. Jim Merz
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#2
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A blast from the past! It must have been really cool to see it again after nearly 50 years.
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My collection: 1947 Ciclo Piave, 1955 Liberia, 1969 Colnago Super, 1972 Legnano Olimpiade Record Specialissima, 1980 Mercian Vincitore, 1983 Gitane Interclub, 1985 Peugeot PGN10, 1986 Bianchi Vittoria, 1987 De Rosa Professional, 1989 Vitus 979, 1990 Bianchi Axis, 1990 Specialized Sirrus, 2001 Colnago Dream B-Stay, 2007 Trek 1000
#3
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Fantastic!
This looks to be one of the best examples of the early livery we've seen.
No braze ons aside from bottle cage.
Very cool, Tx for sharing [MENTION=566038]Portlandjim[/MENTION].
This looks to be one of the best examples of the early livery we've seen.
No braze ons aside from bottle cage.
Very cool, Tx for sharing [MENTION=566038]Portlandjim[/MENTION].
#4
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Excellent!
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There were 135 Confentes, but only one...Huffente!
There were 135 Confentes, but only one...Huffente!
#5
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And SR TIRES!!!!!
#6
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Bikes: 1946 Holdsworth Cyclone, 1969 Cinelli SC, 1972 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Merz road bike, 1974 Alex Singer Sportif, 1974 Merz track bike, 1975 Teledyne Titan, 1976 Ritchey road bike, 1977 DiNucci built Merz track bike, 1977 (?) Exxon Graftek, many more!
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Braze ons
Thanks! The frame has braze on shifter bosses, BB cable guides and divers bell chainstay cable stop. Jim
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#7
Senior Member
Ok, very nice.
now, what to do with or about those finned and bonded Mathauser brake pads?
If display only, probably leave them, for use?
I bought a bike with them and set them aside, just cautious.
‘I have read reports of failure but have never seen an image of those that debonded.
now, what to do with or about those finned and bonded Mathauser brake pads?
If display only, probably leave them, for use?
I bought a bike with them and set them aside, just cautious.
‘I have read reports of failure but have never seen an image of those that debonded.
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#8
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#9
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Bikes: 1946 Holdsworth Cyclone, 1969 Cinelli SC, 1972 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Merz road bike, 1974 Alex Singer Sportif, 1974 Merz track bike, 1975 Teledyne Titan, 1976 Ritchey road bike, 1977 DiNucci built Merz track bike, 1977 (?) Exxon Graftek, many more!
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Mathauser pads
Ok, very nice.
now, what to do with or about those finned and bonded Mathauser brake pads?
If display only, probably leave them, for use?
I bought a bike with them and set them aside, just cautious.
‘I have read reports of failure but have never seen an image of those that debonded.
now, what to do with or about those finned and bonded Mathauser brake pads?
If display only, probably leave them, for use?
I bought a bike with them and set them aside, just cautious.
‘I have read reports of failure but have never seen an image of those that debonded.
#10
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Very nice!!!
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It must be so rewarding seeing something you created from so long ago. I’ve tried to wrap my mind around something like an actor seeing himself in a picture from the past, but it didn’t compute. Same as with a famous musician with videos and songs and such, and maybe even playing the same songs decades later. Same as with famous athletes viewing their accomplishments . I just couldn’t comprehend being in the presence of where your were then, but now decades removed. Just family photos and videos leave us with a glimpse, but such tangible things at hand must really jog the mind. I bet you enjoy this greatly!
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Ok, very nice.
now, what to do with or about those finned and bonded Mathauser brake pads?
If display only, probably leave them, for use?
I bought a bike with them and set them aside, just cautious.
‘I have read reports of failure but have never seen an image of those that debonded.
now, what to do with or about those finned and bonded Mathauser brake pads?
If display only, probably leave them, for use?
I bought a bike with them and set them aside, just cautious.
‘I have read reports of failure but have never seen an image of those that debonded.
#13
Senior Member
Haven't seen that livery before; I love it!
Two Merz's coming out of the woodwork in one week?
Two Merz's coming out of the woodwork in one week?
#14
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Bikes: 1946 Holdsworth Cyclone, 1969 Cinelli SC, 1972 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Merz road bike, 1974 Alex Singer Sportif, 1974 Merz track bike, 1975 Teledyne Titan, 1976 Ritchey road bike, 1977 DiNucci built Merz track bike, 1977 (?) Exxon Graftek, many more!
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I stripped the parts off and cleaned the frame and fork with soapy water. The paint is in great shape! Very slight spider web rust under the paint here and there. The fork steerer shows that I was coating my frames using a hot dip iron phosphate treatment in 1975. So this frame would have been built in my 2115 Everett shop. The tube set is Columbus SL. Notice the fork crown, a Nervex DuBois. These came with pockets suitable for Reynolds 531 old style blades. I ground out the pockets to accept the Columbus fork blades, a fair amount of work. I also domed and slotted the fork tube ends and stay ends, by peening with a hammer. The fork is very light, these fork crowns are hollow. This is a very nice frame!
Photos of the frame and fork here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UX4M9nS7mFSQFCS69
Jim
Photos of the frame and fork here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UX4M9nS7mFSQFCS69
Jim
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I stripped the parts off and cleaned the frame and fork with soapy water. The paint is in great shape! Very slight spider web rust under the paint here and there. The fork steerer shows that I was coating my frames using a hot dip iron phosphate treatment in 1975. So this frame would have been built in my 2115 Everett shop. The tube set is Columbus SL. Notice the fork crown, a Nervex DuBois. These came with pockets suitable for Reynolds 531 old style blades. I ground out the pockets to accept the Columbus fork blades, a fair amount of work. I also domed and slotted the fork tube ends and stay ends, by peening with a hammer. The fork is very light, these fork crowns are hollow. This is a very nice frame!
Photos of the frame and fork here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UX4M9nS7mFSQFCS69
Jim
Photos of the frame and fork here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UX4M9nS7mFSQFCS69
Jim
...on another note, did you not build 56cm frames. I don’t think I have ever seen one available on the CV market...? Haha.
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super, 1971 Raleigh International, 1998 Corratec Ap & Dun, 1991 Peugeot Slimestone
#16
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Bikes: 1946 Holdsworth Cyclone, 1969 Cinelli SC, 1972 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Merz road bike, 1974 Alex Singer Sportif, 1974 Merz track bike, 1975 Teledyne Titan, 1976 Ritchey road bike, 1977 DiNucci built Merz track bike, 1977 (?) Exxon Graftek, many more!
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Merz frame build sheets
Check out the link, there were many 56cm frames. Although I wrote the sizes in inches on these sheets.
As to my memory, I do what Ronald Regan said: Trust and verify! Thats what the build sheets do, verify what happened a long time ago. This bike was built before my serviving records though. Jim
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#17
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That is super helpful, even without you having the build sheet for the frame I just picked up (MM073). So it looks like the two letters are the buyer's initials?
#18
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Bikes: 1946 Holdsworth Cyclone, 1969 Cinelli SC, 1972 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Merz road bike, 1974 Alex Singer Sportif, 1974 Merz track bike, 1975 Teledyne Titan, 1976 Ritchey road bike, 1977 DiNucci built Merz track bike, 1977 (?) Exxon Graftek, many more!
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Jim Merz
#19
blahblahblah chrome moly
Notice the fork crown, a Nervex DuBois. These came with pockets suitable for Reynolds 531 old style blades. I ground out the pockets to accept the Columbus fork blades, a fair amount of work. I also domed and slotted the fork tube ends and stay ends, by peening with a hammer. The fork is very light, these fork crowns are hollow.
Those Nervex crowns are under-rated, they're nice and light and 100% reliable, but a bit crude looking as-delivered. Jim filed off all the ugly!
Last edited by bulgie; 02-24-24 at 05:58 PM.
#20
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It must be so rewarding seeing something you created from so long ago. I’ve tried to wrap my mind around something like an actor seeing himself in a picture from the past, but it didn’t compute. Same as with a famous musician with videos and songs and such, and maybe even playing the same songs decades later. Same as with famous athletes viewing their accomplishments . I just couldn’t comprehend being in the presence of where your were then, but now decades removed. Just family photos and videos leave us with a glimpse, but such tangible things at hand must really jog the mind. I bet you enjoy this greatly!
Portlandjim --
So my question is - would this be similar? A bike built for racing, but for various reasons was set aside. And maybe not forgotten about, but never gotten around to again?
Any lament seeing the bike getting stashed away? Or more of a "hey! this is cool!" ?
Just curious, as I don't have any kind of craftsmanship-ability. And the products I do work on are mass produced. A few people stash them away for decades and occasionally roll them out, but most people drive them for 10 ~ 15 years until the cost of repairs exceed the market value. .... then the scrap heap.
Beautiful bike, by the way - personally I love seeing these (now) rolling works of art!
cheers.
#21
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Bikes: 1946 Holdsworth Cyclone, 1969 Cinelli SC, 1972 Raleigh Pro, 1973 Merz road bike, 1974 Alex Singer Sportif, 1974 Merz track bike, 1975 Teledyne Titan, 1976 Ritchey road bike, 1977 DiNucci built Merz track bike, 1977 (?) Exxon Graftek, many more!
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- A couple months ago or so, Grant Peterson was writing about seeing Riv-bikes that ended up never being used for their intended purpose, and lamenting how they just sat unused or as "museum pieces" (my wording there, paraphrasing from memory). Maybe he wrote about this during one of his fly-fishing posts, not sure.
Portlandjim --
So my question is - would this be similar? A bike built for racing, but for various reasons was set aside. And maybe not forgotten about, but never gotten around to again?
Any lament seeing the bike getting stashed away? Or more of a "hey! this is cool!" ?
Just curious, as I don't have any kind of craftsmanship-ability. And the products I do work on are mass produced. A few people stash them away for decades and occasionally roll them out, but most people drive them for 10 ~ 15 years until the cost of repairs exceed the market value. .... then the scrap heap.
Beautiful bike, by the way - personally I love seeing these (now) rolling works of art!
cheers.
Portlandjim --
So my question is - would this be similar? A bike built for racing, but for various reasons was set aside. And maybe not forgotten about, but never gotten around to again?
Any lament seeing the bike getting stashed away? Or more of a "hey! this is cool!" ?
Just curious, as I don't have any kind of craftsmanship-ability. And the products I do work on are mass produced. A few people stash them away for decades and occasionally roll them out, but most people drive them for 10 ~ 15 years until the cost of repairs exceed the market value. .... then the scrap heap.
Beautiful bike, by the way - personally I love seeing these (now) rolling works of art!
cheers.
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#22
Senior Member
WoW and beautiful! For a bike rarely used, its got a story. How neat and to think nearly a half century later now back with its creator!
Ps. Little component detail; check out the rare Scott Matthauser first gen threaded post finned brake shoes.
Ps. Little component detail; check out the rare Scott Matthauser first gen threaded post finned brake shoes.
#23
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I was about to comment about how tasteful, restrained, and lovely this build is with the Prugnat 62's up front, and then Jim dropped that mind-blowing fact that the crown is a stamped Nervex piece. Good god, those things are rough as a cob out of the box, as are any of their lugsets, even for the time - pressed construction or otherwise. To make one look that good must have taken ages.
Let me know when to sit down; I'm too busy giving the labor put into this crown alone standing ovation...probably for an entire week.
-Kurt
Let me know when to sit down; I'm too busy giving the labor put into this crown alone standing ovation...probably for an entire week.
-Kurt
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#24
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that is a true time capsule.
I have had one of those pads fail repechage The epoxy bonding the pad to the finned backing plate is 45 years old. I would not trust it.
But otherwise, let the good times roll.
/markp
I have had one of those pads fail repechage The epoxy bonding the pad to the finned backing plate is 45 years old. I would not trust it.
But otherwise, let the good times roll.
/markp
#25
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Here is a link to the surviving Merz Mfg. build sheets: https://goo.gl/photos/6ag59tRKvPLy1KnD8
Check out the link, there were many 56cm frames. Although I wrote the sizes in inches on these sheets.
As to my memory, I do what Ronald Regan said: Trust and verify! Thats what the build sheets do, verify what happened a long time ago. This bike was built before my serviving records though. Jim
Check out the link, there were many 56cm frames. Although I wrote the sizes in inches on these sheets.
As to my memory, I do what Ronald Regan said: Trust and verify! Thats what the build sheets do, verify what happened a long time ago. This bike was built before my serviving records though. Jim
Did you ever build a custom so perfect that you sighed when you had to give it up to the customer...it was that satisfying?