Help decoding/deciphering Merckx serial numbers & construction details

[donevwil]

I recently bought the Stuttgart Merckx posted in the Bigbike PSA thread (thanks ckamp) in hope/expectation of a better fit than the one I currently have. Being that no stock Merckx geo ever available would come close to fitting me, my only option has been to wait for the right "pro" frame (not Professional model). Interestingly the SL frameset I purchased years ago from a seller in Belgium has S/N 8002 B with a single chevron ("A" ?) on the left, the TSX frameset I just purchased from a seller in Germany has S/N 8076 B with the same single chevron.

Cadre (http://www.cadre.org/Merckx/) goes into as much detail as I'm aware exists, but when one gets to pro frames the details are murkier.

As far as I can tell both are from '88/'89 and pro frames, can anyone with more knowledge or experience with Merckx frames tell me more? Actual frame tubing is of interest: blue one has no rifling so I assume SL with possibly some SP; Stuttgart is labeled TSX, but as far as I can tell TSX top tubes were only available in 60cm (this one is 63cm). TSX was only a top tube and down tube on an otherwise SL/SLX tubeset, correct? What do BB shells and fork crowns tell you?

Any input is appreciated.

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[Spaghetti Legs]

I cant tell you much specifically but maybe the links below can help. There is a guy recently joined bikeforums (OP of the second link) who has posted a bunch of threads on EM serial numbers. I think he’s had a lot to get off his chest. At any rate some interesting reading. The first link is a Stuttgart Merckx. TSX is the tubing EM used on the Century model starting in 1990 I believe.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1168191-1988-89-eddy-merckx-questions.html

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1172125-eddy-merckx-pro-slx-753-revolution.html

[Pearsom]

I recall the Tears For Gears blog having a lot of info on Merckx steel frames from this era...

http://www.tearsforgears.com/2008/04/merckx-serial-number-updates.html

[Emerxil]

Hello! I am the guy from a lot of EMC threads ( Spaghetti Legs - thank you). Warm-up information: there are frames made in November 1989 for Team 7-Eleven - B8022 and B8039, which means that yours are from the same period. This means that they could have been built for Profis. Blue frame: Are you convinced that it is made of Columbus tubes? Corsa has always been marked with the letter C, and in your left frame there is only the symbol of the EMC employee - ^ (responsible for carefully finishing the frame before chrome plating / painting; the symbols of the EMC employees: A, B, F, G, M, P, T, Y, D, J, L, S, N, H have changed over time), and there is no number to indicate the height of the seat tube (it was practically without exception in the "commercial" copies). No "riflings"does not have to mean SL/SP - it can mean Reynolds tubes: 531 would have (except for C) R, but 653 or 753 have no "their" markings. 653 usually had chrome-plated elements, 753 never. Add to this the fact that the 753 was EMC's favourite material in the construction of the profis..... I would carefully take everything off the frame and weigh it - it could be fun. Stuttgart: If it's a team frame (and there's a good chance of that), I wouldn't worry about the TSX sticker - it's just an advertisement, the frame can be built with a mixture of TSX, SPX, SP. The serial Columbus TSX label on BB cover EMC is TT (Corsa Extra, road racing geo) or TTB (Century, century geo). I would like to have these frames, they are beautiful...



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