Merckx ID questions: through BB routing and Campy DOs

[TronnyJenkins]

I've looked through the Cadre serials and info but haven't deduced a whole lot besides mid to late eighties and size 52. My main question is, has anyone seen a bottom bracket like this?

It has the written "Eddy" flat fork crown, not the EM.

[rccardr]

Never seen a TTB stamping on a Merckx BB, nor that many letters/numbers on the drive side. That cable routing is also new to me, at least on a Merckx.

Believe I've seen it on another bike, at some point I may be able to remember where. Might have been on a Bilato-built ADR replica.

Signature fork crown should mean pre-'85.

[zmudshark]

I'm going to take a wild stab and say it is a custom 1990 bike, possibly a 10th Anniversary edition, and the strange serial relates to tt & bb cabling.

Likely stolen long ago, painted poorly and now in a Puerto Rican pawn shop.I doubt the parts are worth anything now, and the frame is a gamble even at opening bid.

I could be way off, just making a reasonable guess based on what I can see.

[Saint Vitus]

In researching that very bike, I ran across an example of that BB on a legit specimen. The 'TTB' in the serial is also very curious, I figured it was a 10th Anniversary model and given the vagaries of Merckx serialization left it at that.

[Joxster]

I think somebody has drilled the smaller holes for the gear cables, any frame would have the plastic guide rivetted on where the larger hole is. If it didn't have the guide there would be a designatted channel for the cables.

[zmudshark]

Originally Posted by Joxster

I think somebody has drilled the smaller holes for the gear cables, any frame would have the plastic guide rivetted on where the larger hole is. If it didn't have the guide there would be a designatted channel for the cables.

I'm pretty sure the cable holes are original.

[velomateo]

Resprayed with the bottom bracket installed, and that bb looks like it may take some effort to remove.

Is that a time trial bike (TTB)?

How about a pic of the complete bike.

[velomateo]

Just checked ebay, and saw the listing. That's a strange one.

[nesteel]

Maybe it's just me, but judging by the pipe wrench scars on the seatpost, it ain't gonna come out easy. Doesn't bode well for what else is hiding under that obvious repaint.

[rccardr]

Ouch. Just looked at the listing.
Lots of unpleasant surprises lurking there, I suspect.

[TronnyJenkins]

Yeah, looks like I'm avoiding this one. Anyone else feels risky, I won't bid against you. Haha.

[spookyload]

My 91 Corsa Extra has the exact same bb

[TronnyJenkins]

Looks like it sold for $499. Not a terrible price with the deltas and other parts, but more trouble than it's worth to me right now!

[Emerxil]

Maybe it could be useful to someone...
TTB = Century TSX, that's all.