Decoding of Eddy Merckx frames
#201
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What an amazing thread and so much history.
I'm a new EMC owner, it's a two colour red/yellow same style as the '85 two colour Kelme blue/white. I'll post some pics when I have enough posts.
LHS reads 8C with a P underneath
RHS reads Z9516
I assume it's a 58 Corsa late '85 early '86
I'm a new EMC owner, it's a two colour red/yellow same style as the '85 two colour Kelme blue/white. I'll post some pics when I have enough posts.
LHS reads 8C with a P underneath
RHS reads Z9516
I assume it's a 58 Corsa late '85 early '86
Last edited by AUPedla; 06-22-20 at 04:11 AM.
#202
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...almost perfectly
fall 1986...
no team known to me has used such a combination of colors... but I haven't deciphered some of them yet: English Schils 86, Australian Mainline 84, some American teams... who knows?
fall 1986...
no team known to me has used such a combination of colors... but I haven't deciphered some of them yet: English Schils 86, Australian Mainline 84, some American teams... who knows?
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#203
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The mystery contintues on the paint
It has a race plate mount and the infamous 'P', I assume that is the stamp of the person who built it?
#204
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Number holder is an option available for everyone (manufacturer's designation: FF = Foto Finish, you can find it in EMC catalogues)
P is the code mark of the employee responsible for careful "smoothing" of the frame before chrome plating and painting - it was about quality control, in case of problems it was known who would not get dessert as punishment...
P is the code mark of the employee responsible for careful "smoothing" of the frame before chrome plating and painting - it was about quality control, in case of problems it was known who would not get dessert as punishment...
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#205
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Number holder is an option available for everyone (manufacturer's designation: FF = Foto Finish, you can find it in EMC catalogues)
P is the code mark of the employee responsible for careful "smoothing" of the frame before chrome plating and painting - it was about quality control, in case of problems it was known who would not get dessert as punishment...
P is the code mark of the employee responsible for careful "smoothing" of the frame before chrome plating and painting - it was about quality control, in case of problems it was known who would not get dessert as punishment...
Last edited by AUPedla; 06-24-20 at 03:46 AM.
#206
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Finally here are the pics of my unique Eddy, she's curently at the day spa getting some work done by CycloRetro
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Beautiful Corsa ver.1
It doesn't seem to be a team painting, but it definitely looks like a factory-made EMC (custom color set)
Same scheme, banal colours
It doesn't seem to be a team painting, but it definitely looks like a factory-made EMC (custom color set)
Same scheme, banal colours
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#208
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Thanks, were the sloping fork crowns available in '85? Could it be other tubing than Columbus SL? There are no Columbus frame or fork stickers.
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Columbus SL didn't have "his" designation... but Corsa Reynolds 531 should have an R, and if you don't see it... it should be an SL
"Slope fork crown" has been in common use since 1983
"Slope fork crown" has been in common use since 1983
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At the time when EMC decided to enrich its offer (mid-1984), model names had to appear:
- top: Pro SLX/753 - note: you will not find this name in any catalogue, there was no such "gold sticker", you can only find it in ads... produced 1984-1986
- medium: Professional SL/531...it still didn't exist - officially; it was the only model produced since 1980 and remained "no name" until the end (1986)...but it appears in catalogues
- "slightly lower than the medium": 3-Athlete - official name, "gold sticker" and presence in 1985 catalogue... produced 1984 -1986
...a little later Corsa appears (in 1985-1986 the unofficial name... appears in the 1986 catalogue), which at first is a continuation of the Professional model in its earlier version, and in 1986 it gets its "gold stickers" and official name... and is produced (and gently modified) until 1994 (!)
Professional teams have always used the best framework available:
- from 1980 to spring 1985 it was a Professional frame
- from spring 1985 to summer 1986 it was a Pro SLX/753 frame
- since the fall of 1986, Corsa Extra was used... ...which is a Pro with the right "gold sticker"...
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
- top: Pro SLX/753 - note: you will not find this name in any catalogue, there was no such "gold sticker", you can only find it in ads... produced 1984-1986
- medium: Professional SL/531...it still didn't exist - officially; it was the only model produced since 1980 and remained "no name" until the end (1986)...but it appears in catalogues
- "slightly lower than the medium": 3-Athlete - official name, "gold sticker" and presence in 1985 catalogue... produced 1984 -1986
...a little later Corsa appears (in 1985-1986 the unofficial name... appears in the 1986 catalogue), which at first is a continuation of the Professional model in its earlier version, and in 1986 it gets its "gold stickers" and official name... and is produced (and gently modified) until 1994 (!)
Professional teams have always used the best framework available:
- from 1980 to spring 1985 it was a Professional frame
- from spring 1985 to summer 1986 it was a Pro SLX/753 frame
- since the fall of 1986, Corsa Extra was used... ...which is a Pro with the right "gold sticker"...
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
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#219
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Here's another Merckx
Apologies for the dirty frame pictures. It's exactly as it was when pulled from the seller's shed.
On the drive side: the letter D, no other letters or numbers that I can see
On the non-drive side: E 5149
I removed the forks and it doesn't have any numbers in the steering tube
Thanks for your help, CyclesMakaron!
D E 5149
Bottom bracket and chainstay bridge
Tubing and upper TdF stickers are gone, unfortunately
Seat lug detail
Brake bridge
No numbers on steering tube
Drive side with temporary wheels
On the drive side: the letter D, no other letters or numbers that I can see
On the non-drive side: E 5149
I removed the forks and it doesn't have any numbers in the steering tube
Thanks for your help, CyclesMakaron!
D E 5149
Bottom bracket and chainstay bridge
Tubing and upper TdF stickers are gone, unfortunately
Seat lug detail
Brake bridge
No numbers on steering tube
Drive side with temporary wheels
#220
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Yeah the bike seems a bit strange, but a beauty.
/M
#221
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E5149 - Professional Columbus SL/SP (it's a large frame, most have SP), turn 82/83
I think it's 0 (that's frame size = 60cm ?)
Maybe it's also the employee code (for a while in 1983 there was such a designation)
I think it's 0 (that's frame size = 60cm ?)
Maybe it's also the employee code (for a while in 1983 there was such a designation)
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CyclesMakaron, let me start with (I think) late 1988 Corsa Extra Stuttgart 8X F A8542 this one still has the fork sticker intact, I'll post photos in a few posts time.
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Also , H F5242 This is an interesting one .. Deda Zero Uno, but round at the BB rather than oval like a Corsa 01. Columbus fork though, has the rifling in the steerer tube. Number hanger. ASLK CGER colours. My guess is ASLK team bike or ASLK junior team, 1994 maybe?
Last edited by Seanaus; 07-21-20 at 07:16 AM.
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A8542 - 1988 more spring than "late"
...such an early Stuttgart frame is... inexplicable for the time being, and there are more. (I don't rule out the dating of frame 87/88 being "postponed" - I don't have a single undisputed date frame from that period) - I know that the painting pattern appeared before naming the team, but that's all...
F5242 - early 1995... is it definitely not Corsa Extra SLX ? In 1995 all new models had ovalised/oversize tubes, riflings in steerer tube is rather "old" Columbus... the photos will help...
...such an early Stuttgart frame is... inexplicable for the time being, and there are more. (I don't rule out the dating of frame 87/88 being "postponed" - I don't have a single undisputed date frame from that period) - I know that the painting pattern appeared before naming the team, but that's all...
F5242 - early 1995... is it definitely not Corsa Extra SLX ? In 1995 all new models had ovalised/oversize tubes, riflings in steerer tube is rather "old" Columbus... the photos will help...
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F5242 > I'm pretty certain that it's Deda. The tube sizes are right when compared to a Corsa 01, and the Deda decal is under what appears to be the original clear coat. The fork has the sticker with the frame number on it. Also this frame has sort of fastback seat stays.... Photos tomorrow, internet is terrible here.
Last edited by Seanaus; 07-22-20 at 07:41 AM. Reason: added detail