Eddy Merckx "signature" Professional 1980-81?

[dan73uk]

Once the old decals were removed, it was time to fit the correct ones.
This was quite tricky having never attempted it before.

I lined them up by eye whilst referring to images of other Professional frames from the same period. Initially fixing them with masking tape to see if they looked correct.

 

[Graham_hkr]

Re:

Coming on nicely, love the colour...

 

[dan73uk]

Thanks, The red is lovely in the sunshine.

 

[dan73uk]

Pantographed stem in a poor state.
Stripped the anodizing with wet & dry paper and then repainted the panto with model paint.

 

[dan73uk]

Pantographed chainring

 

[dan73uk]

Selle italia RS 80 Merckx signature saddle.
In very well used condition.

 

[dan73uk]

Pantographed Merckx levers

 

[Jamiedyer]

That's looking much better now you have got it back in it's proper livery.
The colour is really smart and you got it cleaned pretty nicely to have it shining back through. Certainly going to look nice with everything fitted.
You made that stem look 100% better, great job reversing the black, looks way better this way.
I wouldn't be bothered about the De Rosa email as from what I have known and seen over many years, while De Rosa helped Merckx to learn how to setup his workshop and personally helped him set it all up as well as a couple De Rosa employees going there to teach the Merckx builders how to really make impressive frames, Merckx were all built in Meisse and besides maybe Eddys own, none were made in the De Rosa shop, or the other common one is that Colnago made them also. Merckx were all built in house. Your one is a very early one with the signature style seat caps but almost certainly made in Belgium.
Was your thinking that it was made by De Rosa or that it was personally made by Ugo in Belgium?

Jamie

 

[dan73uk]

Jamie,
Thanks for the history on the set up of Merckx bikes as what I have read before on Ugo & Merckx and their early working relationship was not very clear.
My thinking was the it may have been made by Ugo in Belgium at Merckx factory but that was really based on the unclear information that I read before.

 

[dan73uk]

Regina oro gold Chain & freewheel