late Professional, Columbus SL probably

Need help with an older Merckx frame!
 

Again, I come for help figuring out the numbers on a Merckx frame, and I think this one is fairly old, from the looks of it:
On the left is just the number 2
On the right is E 9534
Any help with this frame would be greatly appreciated!!

E9534 - 1984
photo pls

Pics attached, thanks so much for your help!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...03742db4c.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cbe24dbad.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f1e9c3585.jpeg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...37bb2f0cb.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7abaf3861.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...20bc3850a.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e6ae83160.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a60ebb186.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b610c9095.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3bd7861f4.jpeg

Professional Team Issue Molteni - 1985 catalog

A O R. E4225 60cm Professional Reynolds 531
 

I’m assuming that this is a repaint ( were there custom painted frames back in the 80s??).

Reynolds tubing stacks up with BB R stamp but 4225 doesn’t work size wise as a 60c-c. I take it that these serial numbers are not fooplroof??

What definitive year would this be from?

Great thread, thanks for the ground work to get this up and published!:thumb:


https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cfee301c1.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...966945c78.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6e2093652.jpeg

A0R E4225 Professional

A - EMC man
0 - frame size (in this case 60cm)
R - Reynolds 531
E4225 - serial number, year 1982

Non-factory repainted

Thanks CyclesMakaron that’s the info I needed. Didn’t even think that the O was in fact a 0 denoting the 60cm frame size.
Great work, much appreciated.

My only other query with regards to this frame is when we’re the sloping forks released for the Professional? With 1982 as a build year would these forks have been to early for the frame? The decals would need to be changed to reflect its age also I’m assuming. Thanks.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...128330c55.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6ee5599bc.jpeg

Slope fork crown - OK for 1982
Can you check the card / markings on the fork steering tube ?
The best sets of stickers for early EMC are sold by Cyclomondo - coincidentally from Australia :)

Of course this notification went to spam and I just now saw it....thank you much for your super valuable help and shared knowledge!

Jacek, today's candidate for your input please. From reading the lists in the big source I'd say the middle of 1987. Sticker says SLX, but no stampings on the bb to confirm or deny this. If this is what it appears to be I'd think the original fork from 1987 would be the sloping crown? As always, many thanks, Sean.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8e40807b8c.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...101ebdde28.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...18e18d5e83.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...649b329884.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7090c1d6e9.jpg

There are many indications that this is indeed a Criquielion bicycle frame from the Hitachi 1988 team built in early fall 1987. This means that it is built in an unusual geometry and "unknown" tubes - hence the lack of markings (X and sizes). The fork should look something like this:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3786ad1107.jpg

Hello CycleMakaron,

Hope you can help me cypher this one please. I used your table for guidance however, The 'P' throws me off slightly.
Appreciate your time and erudition on this subject, great stuff.
Serial: P 8400 E
Thanks
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cf32f87c40.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6652626b49.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...740aa54681.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...be94b533a7.jpg

Full markings: P E8400
Pista 1983 Columbus SL

Thanks CM.
Great stuff

Fantastic resource CM, thank you.

My frame:

Left side: 6
Right side V 200

Bike has "signature" SSC and "Eddy"/"Merckx" crowns. And some nice panto.

Would love to get your input.

I, and I'm sure others, would be very interested to see pictures of this... Early V serial is most interesting :thumb:

The V marking makes your heart beat faster :) Photos in any number are very welcome.

Thanks, let me work on making a couple more posts, and then I'll attach a few photos.

Thanks, seems to be more interest in these classic Merckx since I got mine a good few years ago.

A few photos:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3dd04ed61e.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6aa47f6331.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3c22515734.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dcfb20c849.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f651b97251.jpg

Beautiful!
In the mid-1980s, someone repainted it and put stickers on the new design.
Check the steering tube in your free time - you can find interesting markings there (of course, take a photo and publish it)
You have an extremely rare EMC.
Once again - Beautiful!

Sold by Fedor den Hertog AKA Iwan the Terrible

So much talent that he didn't know what to do with it.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6abf9a573e.jpg

Thank you for the kind words!
It would seem that Guy Janiszewski would have possibly been involved in the paint job, given this sticker.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8fdef114aa.jpg

Please help identifying this Eddy Merckx frame
 

Bike forums will not let me post photos yet. Please help me identify this Eddy Merckx frame. On the left side of the bottom bracket there is the letter "G". Underneath that is the number 8611. On the right side of the bottom bracket there is the letter "H". I suspect that this is a factory paint job as I have never seen this before.
Thanks
Paul

Year of production 1998
Without photos, there will be no more information
Any stickers, inscriptions?

6/14/22
Thanks for the reply. Bikeforums will not let me post photos until I make at least 10 previous posts. Is there some other way I can get photos to you? There is a Columbus Genius sticker and a sticker that says "Original Paintwork Eddy Merckx Zinc Phosphate Anti Corrosion Treatment". Otherwise, there there is no model indicated. I have never seen this paint scheme. It is not a typical paint scheme.
Thanks
Paul

Columbus Genius?
Strange - the only series I tracked was built for the Motorola team for the 1994 season.
I'm helpless without pics - the smart people on this forum know some (legal) way to publish pics.

Hi,

Since I cannot currently post photos, here is a method that might help. Please see page 16, post number 400 of this thread. This blue frame is an exact match (paint wise) to my frame of inquiry. Mine is white (main color) and uses blue and burgundy decals. Compared to the blue one, mine does not have the braze-on for a front derailleur. The decal at the base of the seat tube is a Columbus Custom Genius decal (silver and blue) with a border that says Eddy Merckx at the bottom and Columbus at the top. The decal at the top of the seat tube has the Eddy Merckx logo then says "Original paintwork Eddy Merckx Zinc Phosphate Anti Corrosion Treatment" Does this mean that the frame was repainted at the factory? The underside of the bottom bracket shell is much simpler than the blue one - no setup for internal cables, but a threaded hole for a plastic cable guide instead.

I hope that this helps with the identification process and I thank you for your efforts and time.