Classic & Vintage - 1978 Melton Club racer

I havbe a 1978 Melton Club racer. I am the original owner. It is a steel (Isiwata .022) lugged frame and is in good enough condition that I might refurbish it.

Does anyone know of this maker? He biult the USA Track bikes for the '84 Olympics but that is all I know about him.


Thanks,

Bryan

Hi Bryan: Interesting post of yours. I have Melton's 12th frame, a 27" touring bike built when he had a shop in Columbia, SC. He built mine in 1975 for my 1976 BikeCentennial road trip. My frame was too tall for his frame jigs, so he used 2x4s and string to align it. About all I know is that he went on to work for Raleigh & Huffy, made the '84 track frames, and got big into tandems. He produced the first two carbon-fiber tandems ever made, one broke and the other is still in use. This failure didn't encourage Raleigh to continue the carbon tandems. I searched for "Melton bicycle frame" on Google this morning and found a few hits.
I'm at the point of re-building the frame very soon, now. I don't think I'll re-paint it as it might be valuable in the original condition. Mike used to hand paint the Cinelli (handlebar bar stems) crest on the head tube of his frames, then he made the "Melton" decal for the down tube, which I designed for him. Unfortunately, he re-painted my bile after my cross country ride because it wasn't quite aligned right and he re-brazed the rear triangles (remember the 2x4s?) and I got the decals put back on and the crest was gone.
I'm looking for more about him, too. Let me know what you find.
Mattew

Mike Melton and Dennis Bushnell worked together at Santana Tandems. You can contact Dennis at Bushcycles@aol.com. He may have info about Mike.

Bryan: Found these two pictures of other Melton frames, a red 1985 and another green one...date unknown. Look under the bottom bracket of your frame and see if the date is stamped in the steel...that would be the serial number of the frame, if it's there.
oops...the second one is too large to attach...will try another post.
Matthew

Here's the other one...green & white
Send me pictures of your frame when you get a chance.
Matthew

never seen a green melton

never seen a green melton
Lofter: Check you e-mail and see the "1976 Melton Touring Bike" post. got your pics and want all the juicy details!

I recommend repainting only if the original paint is shot. (The decision to spend money on professional refinishing was somewhat easier with my Capo, since I bought it as an already-repainted $20 yard sale special.)

its shot