moxfyre

Anyone ever heard of this bike? I believe it's a 70s model, and I have an opportunity to trade for one (other guy has a frame that's too big, I have one that's too small, we both want to build fixies...)

Any info on the Raleigh Merlin will be appreciated

USAZorro

Never heard of one. More likely an 80's model. Would be instructive to know where the badge says it was made. Raleigh Canada models had different names through much of their line-up than did Raleigh USA and Raleigh England models. Again - this was the case in the 80's.

moxfyre

Gotcha. Thanks for the tip. I'll have to investiage when I go take a look at this thing. I suppose I'm just impatient to find out what my next fixie will (hopefully) be

moxfyre

Update: apparently it's a Nottingham frame with moustache-ish bars. I'm slavering with anticipation

mswantak

Well, wipe your chin before you go pick it up -- you'll scare the guy.

moxfyre

You're right! I just got the bike and it's an 80's model. It even has Shimano Positron shifters+derailers (the notoriously inauspicious beginning of indexed shifting ). The badge definitely says Nottingham, England. It's a pretty nice looking frame, and I'm very happy to find something in the 25" size, but it's certainly a low-end bike. The rims were steel (I let the previous owner keep those...)

bullet75

I got the same bike, I'm trying to restore it. Anyone has extra decals for this bike?
Please let me know

Thanks

Esteban32696

I would have kept the steel rims & stored them. Later, if the bike becomes a collectible, it may enhance its' value.

redneckwes

OP's thread is 3.5 years old.

derailled

I HAVE FOUND SOME INFORMATION ON MERLIN BICYCLES ON THE WWW.

I also see them come up on bicycle auctions in New Zealand for example. These are older road bikes late 40s, 50s. I bought a Humber frame yesterday with double bladed forks. There was a nice decal on the seat post in vertical font, head badge removed. Another decal on the front down tube in script reads Sports Tourist. So it looks like a Humber Sports Tourist. However the seat post decal says MERLIN and has the flying bird rather like the RAF ( :.

Humber bought Merlin and then Raleigh consumed or bought Humber. Merlin being a great frame maker.So the Merlin in your Raleigh model relates to the frame being of high quality and the Merlin name being retained for frame identification.

Web findings below and url accessed wihtin the last month October 2009..

Merlin

https://www.flickr.com/photos/shiftnyckel/2770173825/

" Merlin frames come from Leeds, Yorkshire - this one a 'new old' one in that it was made in 2005, but stricly following the canon of vintage racing bikes, with lugs, diagonal dropouts - the works.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/shiftny...7606779701152/
https://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/history.php
In 1935 J. R. Jackson opened the first "J.R.J. Cycles" with money borrowed from his mother but upon the outbreak of World War II, the shop shut whilst Bob served in the Royal Air Force.

On his return Bob restarted his old business and soon built up a successful line of lightweight racing cycles, as well as building frames for many of the well known cycle companies of the day. The purchase of the historic "Merlin" brand in 1955 brought new life to this classic marque & soon there were parallel ranges of "JRJ"s & "Merlin" frames. By 1964 The "Bob Jackson" special edition framesets & cycles were starting to make their mark & were featured in the 1964 catalogue.1969 saw the company move to 148 Harehills Lane, soon to become famous both here & across the Atlantic when "JRJ “ cycles showed at the only stateside show at the time, New York. Massive sales were followed by subsequent trips to the states & by the early 1970`s Bob had an unrivalled reputation in the USA & the UK.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A Brief History
In 1935 J. R. Jackson opened the first "J.R.J. Cycles" with money borrowed from his mother but upon the outbreak of World War II, the shop shut whilst Bob served in the Royal Air Force.

On his return Bob restarted his old business and soon built up a successful line of lightweight racing cycles, as well as building frames for many of the well known cycle companies of the day. The purchase of the historic "Merlin" brand in 1955 brought new life to this classic marque & soon there were parallel ranges of "JRJ"s & "Merlin" frames. By 1964 The "Bob Jackson" special edition framesets & cycles were starting to make their mark & were featured in the 1964 catalogue.1969 saw the company move to 148 Harehills Lane, soon to become famous both here & across the Atlantic when "JRJ “ cycles showed at the only stateside show at the time, New York. Massive sales were followed by subsequent trips to the states & by the early 1970`s Bob had an unrivalled reputation in the USA & the UK.

More overseas sales followed & by the early eighties more of the traditional framebuilders & painters were turning to JRJ cycles for their production needs & it was to one of these companies that Bob turned to when he wanted to retire. The owners of the "Hetchins" brand had used JRJ Cycles exclusively to build their curly stayed frames from the late 70`s & so seemed a natural buyer for the company in 1986 as Bob felt he had been at the helm for long enough. Things did not go well during the following years but fortunately Bob was cajoled by Donald Thomas to help rescue the company that he had spent so long in running & in 1993 Bob Jackson Cycles started from the low point of the rented industrial unit that the old management had landed the company in.

Like a new broom Donald, with Bob advising part time, swept all the bad practice that had accumulated, out. Now all work was to be done in house, all painting to be done in house, perfection was the goal, with no shortcuts, no fudging round the edges. By 1997 the company had long outgrown the industrial unit & the hunt was on to find not only premises where the factory could continue to expand but also where there could be a return to proper retailing & service as the company had done in all the years when Bob had control.

The Station Parade on Stanningley Road , Bramley, Leeds became the new home for Bob Jackson Cycles in June of that year & since then the shop & the factory have continued to grow with new contracts, new frame designs, improved efficiency & better products. Sadly Bob died in 1999, but with Donald still at the helm the business founded in 1935 is stronger than it has ever been, offering better quality, better products & better service. "

EjustE

that's sure a Lazarus post...

there is another Merlin bike company, still existing, making titanium and steel framed bikes in the US since the 80s (now it's all Ti).

https://www.merlinbike.com/home.aspx

Dr.Deltron

Very cool info!
And here's a picture of ours...
Thanks again to Fender1 for sending me the frame!!

derailled

Yes they are entirely a separate venture, no relation, but may have launched on the show and racing success of the British progenitors of that marque name? imho.

derailled

Thanks for posting this link to your bike . It is fabulous.

derailled

I bought a Humber Sports Tourist Frame in the weekend. It has a Merlin decal in vertical font on the seatpost.
I think Humber bought Merlin[UK], then Raleigh Industries consumed Humber and number of other makes like Rudge. Merlin it appears specialised [we spell it that way] in frame building. The frame had double bladed forks and is appx early 60s violet hued blue. All very original too.

norskagent

Not a "raleigh" merlin, but here are some pics of one I passed on, for obvious reasons:

bullet75

I'm getting close restoring this old bike, but still no luck for the sticker

derailled

I am intoxicated by these images of your Merlin.

Wow what a feast of info on the frame.

which decal do you require? can you obtain artwork on one decal or 'sticker'?

You can make them.

Most graphics places can make them up even if you have a picture. They are quite sophisticated but a set up pair costs 60-80 nz dollars for an example, then they diminish in cost after that.

derailled

Sorry guys I got the posts merged into one..OMG where is that one you "PASSED" on ( :

Lonsdale

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