Falcon Cycles Company Account (Typescript, Undated) — the Falcon, Coventry-Eagle and Eddy Merckx Marques and the Barton-upon-Humber Works

A typed account of Falcon Cycles Limited, sent “with the Compliments” of the firm: its Falcon, Coventry-Eagle and Eddy Merckx marques, the building of a frame and the people of the works. Undated.

— Page 1 —
Sent with the Compliments of
FALCON CYCLES LIMITED
P.O. BOX 1, MARSH LANE, BARTON-UPON-HUMBER. LINCS. DN18 5HD
Telephone: Barton-upon-Humber 32268

MODEL 76

It takes something like 3½ hours for Falcon Cycles to build one of their top of the range model 76 frames but when completed it’s a frame which will give years of faithful service and be a constant source of pride to its lucky owner.

The model 76 – available in different guises under the Falcon, Coventry-Eagle and Eddy Merckx marques – is, quite simply, the match of any racing machines available on the market today.

Designed by Ernie Clements, three times British National Champion and a cyclist all his life – race tested by top professional racing men, made with loving care by the family team at Falcon’s Barton-on-Humber factory and sold by dealers who really care, the model 76 is, quite simply, a winner.

Falcon’s works spreads over some 63,000 square feet but production of the model 76 is concentrated in a special corner where men like Alan Towle, 40 years in the trade, bring their sonsumate skills to its manufacture.

Tubing is brought in from Reynolds ( the famous 531 brand), lugs imported from Italy and France. The tubes and lugs are pegged together and then brazed by hand, a highly skilled process, being aligned both visually and by matching against jigs.

Frame sizes can range from 20″ up to 25″, each size meaning that other dimensions must be adjusted accordingly.

After cleaning in a shot-blasting [cut off]

1.

[A typewritten sheet on blue paper under the letterhead of Falcon Cycles Limited, headed “MODEL 76”, with paragraphs about building the Falcon model 76 frame. A rusted staple and two rust spots mark the upper left corner, and the lower edge of the sheet cuts off the last typed line.]

— Page 2 —
After cleaning in a shot-blasting cabinet and hand filing and polishing, the frame is sent to the Enamelling Department which is supervised by Stan Such, a man with 52 years experience behind him. A Red-oxide rust-proofing coat is dipped on, any runs are polished off and the frame is then sprayed with two coats, wet on wet and the paint job stove-hardened at 300° fahrenheit for one hour to give a tough, chip-resistant finish.

Fifteen standard colours are offered, each in a choice of three finishes – enamel, polychromatic or flamboyant – the paint shop getting through 50 gallons of paint a week.

Instead of the old fashioned masking tape, a special paste has been put over any chromed parts prior to spraying and when stripped off this leaves the chrome and paint job perfect, ready to be finished off with the maker’s attractive transfers. Forks are screwed or threaded and bottom bracket threads are cleaned on special machines.

Many model 76 frames are sold as such, others are assembled as complete machines, using top-class components supplied by the World’s leading manufacturers being bought in from Italy, France, Belgium,Switzerland, Japan, West Germany and other Countries. It’s a process which takes just one hour, thanks to the deft hands of the assembly line workers, a team which includes a husband and wife with 70 years’ joint service between them.

Each cycle is carefully inspected for any faults and is then carefully cleaned and packed for transit in specially designed protective cartons.

Falcon model 76 bikes are currently in use around the World: the U.S.A. Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and other Countries being regular customers; the ultimate buyers can rest assured that the design has been thoroughly tested, for since 1960 Falcon have sponsored professional racing cyclists in Britain.

The Falcon team has won numerous top awards, including a whole run of National Championships while the World’s greatest cyclist – Eddy Merckx – who lends his name to one of Falcon’s three trade-marks, has just contd….

[A typewritten sheet on blue paper continuing the account of the Falcon model 76, with paragraphs on enameling, colors, assembly, packing and export, and ending with the words “contd….”. A rusted staple lies across the start of a line near the lower left, and a fold crease runs through the top line of type.]

— Page 3 —
taken delivery of a new model 76, which he ordered for his own use to ensure that Falcon’s production meets his own high standards. He needn’t have worried. Thousands of experienced racing and touring cyclists have already pinned their faith on Falcon because they know that this Company, originally founded as Coventry-Eagle back in 1890, is run by men who know their cycling.

Besides Ernie Clements – one of the greatest ever British cyclists – there’s his younger brother Frank – a former top rider in the cash ranks and now in charge of Sales – plus the years of skill accummulated by Falcon’s production team of:-

Managing Director … … Ernest Clements.
Secretary & Director. … Rosemary Clements.
Director & General Manager. Frank Clements.

The Production Team is made up of:-

Walter Clements … … Service Manager.
Peter Brix … … … Buyer.
George Flavell … … Production Manager.
Arnold Harris . … … Works Manager.

– 2 –

[A typewritten sheet on blue paper, folio “- 2 -“, listing the officers of Falcon Cycles Limited and its production team by name and title. The upper left corner of the sheet is cut at a slant and a small hole or tear sits near the left edge.]

— Page 4 —
Walter Clements, George Flavell, Arnold Harris, have been in the cycle trade approximately 20 years each. Walter Clements is in fact in charge of the Lightweight Frame Production and knows all there is to know about bicycles. He also knows what they must look like when they come off the finishing line.

George Flavell started approximately 20 years ago in the Welding and Frame Building Department at Smethwick, and has gradually worked his way through the Frame Shop. He is now in complete charge of the Frame Department at Barton-on-Humber.

Arnold Harris started approximately 23 years ago at Smethwick in the Wheel Department, and naturally knows all there is to know about building and truing wheels. Since moving to Barton he has taken over the job as Works Manager and has been involved in all Departments – Frame Building, Enamel Shop, Wheel Department, Assembly and Despatch. You can find Arnold in any trouble spot or bottle-neck. He is the man to get things moving.

Peter Brix joined the Company 3½ years ago and was born in Hamburg, of German parents and consequently is a big asset to the Company. He speaks, in addition to fluent English, fluent German, a little Italian, and a little French and mixes this with conversations with Spaniards, Portugese etc. Naturally when we are selling or buying in Europe, he always goes along and is in attendance at all the exhibitions.

–oOo–

[A typewritten sheet on blue paper describing the careers of Walter Clements, George Flavell, Arnold Harris and Peter Brix at Falcon Cycles Limited, ending with the typed mark “–oOo–“. A fold crease runs through the top line of type and a few rust specks mark the lower left corner.]