Falcon Monza roadbike - information appreciated!

[greasedwhippet]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone could help me find some further information on this Falcon Monza roadbike. I would be interested tknow when it was made and what steel was used to make the frame as there is no badge or information on the frame which gives a clue about this.

It has been covered up in a shed for the past 25 years and all the components are in good working order.

All information appreciated!

regards

greasedwhippet

 

[keithglos]

Total guesswork, it looks low-end far eastern, but quite a decent shape.
Tubing surely seam welded and thick, you might be able to measure the diameter of the seat post, deduct from 1.125 inches, and work out the wall thickness, or take out the saddle and post and have a look down for a welded seam.
Keith

 

[Midlife]

I think you are right Keith, Looks 80's to me and by that time Falcon were bringing in frames from the Far East and assembling them at their factory at Barton-Upon-Humber.

Shaun

 

[Featch]

That looks like a frame built at the Brigg factory 1982 - 83ish. We turned out about 400 week. Those top tube cable guides are exactly the type and spacing I got the ladies in the frame shop brazing on during my brief stint there in 1982 prior to which there were no braze ons. It'll be silver powder coat (they had an automated plant) with translucent red stove enamel top coat, you can make out the silver showing through round the lugs.

The old Elswick Hopper factory in Barton closed whilst I worked there. I know this because I organised emptying and sorting the stock.

All this was in the period between Ernie Clements leaving (moving to British Eagle) and Parkers of Bolton buying Falcon (1984?) which is when production moved to the far east.

Andy

 

[Midlife]

Hi Andy

Why couldn't you get the ladies (I think there were six of them) to braze on things to the San-Remo Frames several years earlier in the mid 70's

I tried hard to get Billy Holmes to get them done when my frame was built but no luck LOL

Shaun

 

[greasedwhippet]

Hi Andy,

That is fantastic info. I was thinking that the frame had been resprayed because you can see the silver through the paintwork in several places!

I have read that there might be a L'Eroica vintage sportive at next years Peak District Festival of Cycling, so I might give it a run out then (I'll have to get used to having 5 cogs on the back in meantime!)

To say it is a 1980's bike I am suprised that there are no bottle cage bosses on the downtube. Was this common for low-end racing bikes from the 80's?

Thanks again!

 

[greasedwhippet]

More photos attached for anyone interested

 

[Midlife]

As Andy says, he had his work cut out getting the top tube guides brazed on. Bottle bosses brazed on would have been a step too far.

My Falcon from 1975 ish has a big fat zero braze ons LOL

Shaun

 

[greasedwhippet]

LOL!