American Frame ID Help
01-19-20 | 08:16 AM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,147
Likes: 882
Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Looks like titanium with as Unworthy said nice welds but with Ham's good eye sight not good news if indeed that is a crack. In my experience Ti cracks in a weld or in the seam weld which is needed to get the Ti sheet into a tube shape are fairly straight forward repairs, a stress crack like what that line may be is more difficult and $$$, if at all possible and I hope not the case.
01-19-20 | 08:52 AM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 10,333
Likes: 9,914
From: Utah
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
^ Good News!
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
01-19-20 | 11:14 AM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 578
From: California
Bikes: '96 Moots VaMoots, Bertoni MAX, Eddy Merckx Grand Prix Team USA, ‘94 Merlin
That is a great score. Looks to be very early in the titanium timeline, not Teledyne early but as someone said maybe an early Merlin. I love how the top tube cable guides are done, and looks like a lot of work went in to making the brake bridge. That it has a serial number should help in identifying it, so that’s a plus.
I have a early Moots VaMoots, that I absolutely love. This bike looks fun, and should clean up very easily.
I have a early Moots VaMoots, that I absolutely love. This bike looks fun, and should clean up very easily.
01-19-20 | 01:42 PM
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 578
From: California
Bikes: '96 Moots VaMoots, Bertoni MAX, Eddy Merckx Grand Prix Team USA, ‘94 Merlin
First off, thanks for giving me something to do today - on a trip for work and didn’t feel like doing any sight seeing, plus it’s cold out.
Searched for vintage Merlin images, and found nothing that would link this frame to being one. I did learn that Merlin tends to put the serial numbers on the inside of the drive-side dropout.
Several images of bottom brackets with “MADE IN USA” showed up, none with any real ID’s, until I found this one:
https://forums.mtbr.com/vintage-retr...ct-362041.html
To save you having to read through that link, guys there thought it was a McMahon. So armed with that, I searched McMahon. I found a current listing on eBay for this bike - not identical to yours, probably a bit later, but I’m focusing on that rear brake bridge. It’s very unique IMO, and appears to made in-house. Check it out:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mcmahon-Tit...-/163892482405
It appears (according to several McMahon owners) that McMahon contracted Sandvik to build the frames. I haven’t been able to find anything to confirm this, but I do recall Sandvik did contract work for several companies like GT and Mongoose...so this seems feasible.
Searched for vintage Merlin images, and found nothing that would link this frame to being one. I did learn that Merlin tends to put the serial numbers on the inside of the drive-side dropout.
Several images of bottom brackets with “MADE IN USA” showed up, none with any real ID’s, until I found this one:
https://forums.mtbr.com/vintage-retr...ct-362041.html
To save you having to read through that link, guys there thought it was a McMahon. So armed with that, I searched McMahon. I found a current listing on eBay for this bike - not identical to yours, probably a bit later, but I’m focusing on that rear brake bridge. It’s very unique IMO, and appears to made in-house. Check it out:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mcmahon-Tit...-/163892482405
It appears (according to several McMahon owners) that McMahon contracted Sandvik to build the frames. I haven’t been able to find anything to confirm this, but I do recall Sandvik did contract work for several companies like GT and Mongoose...so this seems feasible.
Last edited by velomateo; 01-19-20 at 02:17 PM.
01-19-20 | 04:05 PM
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 50
Likes: 30
From: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Bikes: ‘84 Alan sprint, Rocky Mountain Altitude 799, Trek fuel ex 9.9, Gardin/Battaglin’84, Nishiki international ‘83, ‘86 panasonic dx5000, 93 mongoose amplifier
Litespeed used that fork on some Bikes in the90’s.
Those guys were exotic metal specialists prior to building bikes, so their welding was pretty good.
B
Those guys were exotic metal specialists prior to building bikes, so their welding was pretty good.
B
