Product Description
Merlin Metalworks was founded in Somerville MA in 1986 by Gwyn Jones, Gary Helfrich, and Mike Augspurger. In 1988, Merlin formed a long partnership with master framebuilder Tom Kellogg. In February of 1988, Merlin with the help of Kellogg released the world's first 3/2.5V titanium road bike, the Merlin "Road". This frame is marked #511 on the dropout. Tom Kellogg himself identified this frame and serial number as being built in October of 1988. That makes this a VERY early and rare frame! This is NOT an Extralight, which was not produced until 1991. Tom Kellogg told me this was NOT built by Helfrich, which according to Mike Auspurger means Rob Vandermark built this frame. The welds on this thing are gorgeous!
History
Several bicycle industry legends worked at Merlin in 1988. Rob Vandermark (Merlin, Fat City, founder of Seven Cycles) had a large part in 88', and developed the Extralight in 1991. Tom Kellogg had a very long winning streak on the National and World Championship level with his own "Tom Kellogg" bikes from 1977. He went on to create Spectrum Cycles, and had a huge impact on many Merlin models. Mike Augspurger and Gary Helfrich met working at Fat City Cycles (Fat Chance Yo Eddy), and formed Merlin when Fat disbanded.
There were a few other titanium road bikes before this Merlin, but they were not durable (nor stiff or pleasant to ride!). Bikes like the Teledyne TItan and the English Speedwell were produced in low numbers, and had catastrophically bad cracking problems. Litespeed was another early Ti frame builder, who made their first road frame shortly after this Merlin. Above all, if you ask anyone who makes the absolute best Ti bikes, 1980's and 1990's Merlin is their undoubted answer.
Size
The small/medium 52cm (c-c) frame will fit someone roughly 5ft 3 to 5ft 8. Top tube measures 54cm, effective top tube 52cm.
Condition:
MINT used condition. The titanium finish looks nearly as good as the day it left Merlin's small factory. The decals were just professionally installed and are perfect. NO cracks/gouges/bends/dents or damage of any sort. The fork and stem are mint as well, with only a few very minor marks. Dropouts look great. Headset and bottomm bracket are smooth.
Details
- Frame material: 3/2.5 titanium
- Frame number: 511
- Fork: Time Club straight-blade carbon
- Steerer: 1 inch threaded
- For 700c wheels
- Bottom bracket included: original press fit bb,
- Bottom bracket threads: English
- Seatpost size needed: 27.2mm
- Effective seat tube: 52cm
- Seat tube: 52cm (c-c), 55cm (center to top of seat tube)
- Top tube: 54cm (c-c)
- Headtube:104mm
