Rock Lobster - Or Not?

[Muddyfox69**]

Hopefully someone may be able to advise if the Rock Lobster I recently purchase from Ebay is real or not.
Looking at previous images of R L's, I cant see any with seatstays the same as this.
Anyone have any ideas?

 

[1978]

The Rock Lobster Brand was sold to Merlin Cycles in the mid to late 90s, this is one of theirs rather than an original one.

 

[Markybeau]

Re:

So it's real, but not really real.

 

[Muddyfox69**]

Thanks for the replies. I was aware that Merlin had been given the rights to manufacture this brand. I knew it wouldn't be an original. I'm not that lucky! I actually managed to find an email address for Paul Sadoff and sent the pictures to him, just in the off chance. I wasn't really expecting a reply, but within the hour he came back. Basically just saying the same. It wasn't one of his original frames, but possibly under license from Merlin.
Its just the shape of the seat stays that are troubling me. I can't see any images on line of a Rock Lobster with stays in this shape. Would Merlin be allowed to change the design?

 

[legrandefromage]

If you own the rights you can do whatever you want

 

[idrisrugby]

From my knowledge of the Rock Lobster frames and bikes distributed by Merlin, they all had wishbone rear stays, very different to the traditional style on this bike. Also, it looks like the head tube / top tube weld has been gusseted, again this isn't in line with Rock Lobster / Merlin frames. Hope this helps.

 

[ishaw]

I'd agree, never seen any but wishbone. Merlin frames were more traditional, maybe someone just out some RL stickers on one for fun?

Also, were the Tig frames steel or alloy? The one pictured sure looks alloy to me, I thought they were steel?

 

[raidan73]

The Team Tig SL was Easton tubing but, as others have said, I believe they only had wishbone stays

 

[idrisrugby]

Back in the late 90s and early 00s they had the Tig Team SL and Tig Team 853, the former being aluminium and latter being 853 Steel.