the listed serialnumbers are from the merlinbike.com site back in the 1990s. so no idea when they made the 140-3517 bikes. ;)
there are some frames with receipt. please check them to classify yours. merlin has been founded in 1986. don't think the first frames have been made in 1988.
 
 
merlin mountain incl. helfrich & marin frames merlin elevator incl. prototype (≈150 frames) merlin newsboy incl. prototype (≈380 frames) arctos machine works one-off titanium (≈40 frames)
first prototype, helfrich, 1985, hydraulic press
none (the earlymobile), gary helfrich, 1985, xy, nancy, usa
none, gary helfrich, 1986, xy, xy, xy
none, gary helfrich, 1986, large, xy, xy
...
none?, 1987, medium, marin, xy, xy
none?, 1987, medium, marin, paul, usa
none?, 1987, medium, marin, david turner, usa
none?, 1987, medium, marin, jim harlow, usa
none, 1987, medium, marin, joshua, usa
none, 1987, medium, michael, usa
xy, fat chance cyclo-crosser, 198x, xy, xy
31, 1987, medium, noah, singapore
38, 1987, medium, ashok, switzerland
50, 1987, medium, carsten, netherlands
65, 1987, medium, ashok, switzerland
80, 1987, medium, ashok, switzerland
81, 1987, small, ross, usa
85, 1987, small, ex-jay, usa
86, 1987, small, justin, usa
90, 1987, medium, hans, usa
93, 1987, medium, ashok, switzerland
100, 1987, medium, ashok, switzerland
153, 1987, large, bedrich, switzerland
154, 1987, large, ashok, switzerland
164, 02.11.1987 receipt, large, stefan, switzerland
186, 1987, 13.5", ashok, switzerland
190, 1988, 17", noah, singapore
192, 1988, 17", mike, usa
199, 1988, 17", tim, usa
211, 20.04.1988 receipt, medium, andrea, italy
213, 1988, medium, carsten, netherlands
21 (cyclocross), 10.07.1988, xy, jennifer, usa
250, 1988, medium, ex-eric, usa
296, 1988, 17", ashok, switzerland
301, 1988, 17", ashok, switzerland
342, 1988, 15", ashok, switzerland
371, 1988, medium, ex-jeff, usa
389, 09.09.1988, medium, ex-geoff, usa
446, 1988, medium, marc, germany
1343, 01.1990, 15", xy, uk
1393, 1990, xy", michael, germany
2988, 1990 year welded, 13.5", ashok, switzerland
4362, 1991, 15", ashok, switzerland
6980, 1992, 13.5", ashok, switzerland
8508, 1993, 18.75", ex-ashok, switzerland
9187, 1993, 18.75", ex-ashok, switzerland
...
none, 1990, xy", ashok, switzerland
...
4192, 1991, 19", mathias, germany
4198, 1991, 19", rc mounts, ashok, switzerland
4208, 1991, 17", xy, germany
4212, 1991, 17", lucas, canada
4215, 1991, 17", javier, spain
4220, 1991, 17", shay, usa
4225, 1991, 17", nik, uk
4231, 1991, 17", ashok, switzerland
4238, 1991, 17", rc mounts,  michael, germany
4240, 1991, 17", xy, xy
4243, 1991, 17", xy, xy
4248, 1991, 17", ex-mike, japan
4250, 1991, 17", ashok, switzerland
4243, 1991, 17", xy, xy
4271, 1991, 17", gary, usa
4276, 1991, 17", carsten, netherlands
4280, 1991, 17", andreas, germany
xy, 1991, 19", andrea, italy
xy, 1991, 17", steve, switzerland
...
 
merlin suspension incl. prototype (≈250 frames)
xx1, 1992, xx", xy, xy
xx2, 1992, xx", jeff, singapore
xx1, 1994, xx", xy, xy
...
s003, 1993, 19", rick, usa
s008, 1993, 19", omero, italy
s012, 1993, 17", xy, usa
s039, 1993, 17", xy, uk
s057, 1993, xx", drew, uk
s069, 1993, 15", carsten, netherlands
s076, 1993, xx", xy, usa
s077, 1993, 15", ashok, switzerland
s102, 1993, xx"", xy, ex-usa
s109, 1993, 15", ashok, switzerland
s122, 1993, 17", ashok, switzerland
s163, 1993, 17", lucas, usa
dano, 1993, 17", dan, usa
...
 
merlin xlm
xm001, 1995, 17", ashok, switzerland
xm0884, 1997, 16.25", ex-ashok, switzerland
...
 
merlin taiga
nx0061, 1997, 15", ashok, switzerland
...
 
merlin various prototypes & customs
xxx. 1987, merlin road, kris, usa
...
xxx. 1987, merlin touring drum brakes & integral rack, ashok, switzerland
...
none. 1988, merlin tandem, ashok, switzerland
xxx. 1993, merlin mountain tandem, xy, xy
...
288. 1989, merlin monostay, ashok, switzerland
...
777, 1989, mongoose titanium john tomac signature, 17", paul, usa
787, 1989, mongoose titanium john tomac signature, 17", paul, usa
788, 1989, mongoose titanium john tomac signature, 17", paul, usa
none, 1989, merlin mongoose, 19", ashok, switzerland
1591, 1989, merlin mongoose, 19", ashok, switzerland
...
3600, 1990, merlin ashley, xsmall, ashok, switzerland
...
4332, 1991, raleigh john tomac signature, 19", mike, uk
4436, 1991, raleigh john tomac signature, 19", paul, usa
4438, 1991, raleigh john tomac signature, 19", paul, usa
4455, 1991, raleigh john tomac signature, 19", eric, usa
4456, 1991, raleigh john tomac signature, 19", eric, usa
4461, 1991, raleigh john tomac signature, 19", paul, usa
4xxx, 1991, raleigh john tomac signature, 19", mike, usa
4xxx, 1991, raleigh john tomac signature, 19", noah, singapore
...
salsa titanium, 199x, bendicht, switzerland
salsa titanium, 199x, noah, singapore
...
merlin mountain 9119 with newsboy downtube, 1993/97, allen, usa
merlin mountain with newsboy downtube, 199x, allen, usa
...
c101286, ca. 1997, merlin bmx 24", ashok, switzerland
...
none, 1998, merlin mca, ashok, switzerland
...
xxx. 2003, merlin 29er prototype, 17", ashok, switzerland
...
666, 1988, 17", one piece, rob, usa
...
n0005, 1995, 19", two piece, carsten, netherlands
n0006, 1995, 19", two piece, ashok, switzerland
n005, 1995, 17", xy, usa
n006, 1995, 17", one piece, august, switzerland
n009, 1995, 15", one piece, hans, germany
n011, 1995, 15", one piece, ric, singapore
n013, 1995, 17", one piece, xy, xy
n014, 1995, 15", one piece, ashok, switzerland
n017, 1995, 15", xy, usa
n019, 1995, 15", xy, usa
n020, 1995, 15", one piece, dario, italy
n021, 1995, 17", one piece, xxx, usa
n022, 1995, 17", one piece, christopher, germany
n024, 1995, 19", xy, usa
n029, 1995, 17", jens, germany
n030, 1995, 17", one piece, xy, xy
n032, 1995, 17", one piece, xy, germany
n034, 1995, 17", one piece, xy, germany
n037, 1995, 17", one piece, xy, switzerland
n039, 1995, 17", one piece, xy, usa
n044, 1995, 17", one piece, xy, usa
n045, 1995, 17", one piece, walker, usa
n046, 1995, 19", one piece, bernard, usa
n047, 1995, 19", one piece, eddy, italy
n052, 199x, 19", one piece, ex-matt, usa
n053, 1995, 19", one piece, xy, switzerland
n055, 1995, 19", one piece, geoff, usa
n064, 1995, 19", one piece, xy, singapore
n068, 1995, 19", one piece, august, switzerland
n069, 1995, 19", one piece, oliver, germany
n075, 1995, 15", one piece, romuald, france
n076, 1995, 15", one piece, ashok, switzerland
n080, 1995, 15", one piece, shaun, usa
n084, 1995, 15", one piece, noah, usa
n087, 1995, 17", one piece, tj, usa
n091, 1995, 17", one piece, michael, germany
n095, 1995, 17", one piece, xy, xy
n099, 1995, 17", one piece, ex-andreas, germany
n100, 1995, 17", one piece, xy, usa
n101, 1995, 17", one piece, tj, usa
n103, 1995, 17", one piece, david, france
n105, 1995, 17", one piece, ghee chuan, singapore
n108, 1995, 17", one piece, alessandro, italy
n115, 1995, 17", one piece, mike, uk
n118, 1995, 17", martin, usa
n120, 1995, 17", two piece, xy, usa
n122?, 1995, 17", xy, canada
n122?, 1995, 15", two piece, xy, switzerland
n125, 1995, 15", xy, xy
n152, 1995, 19", two piece, ex-martin, usa
n153, 1995, 19", two piece, kevin, usa
n154, 1995, 19", two piece, xy, switzerland
13519, 1997, 15", two piece, ashok, switzerland
13715, 1997, 19", two piece, ronnie, usa
14716, 1997, 15", two piece, e., usa
14040, 1997, 19", two piece, marco, italy
14718, 1998, 17", two piece, lorena, italy
unregistered:
nxx1, 1995, 17", one piece, mountain bike hall of fame, crested butte mt. heritage museum, usa
nxx3, 1995, 15", one piece, xy, xy
nxx4, 1995, 17", xxx piece, xy, xy
specials:
xxx. 199x, merlin newsboy tandem, jeff, usa
arctos machine bruce gordon rock 'n road, noah, singapore
arctos machine bruce gordon road, 700c, raw, ashok, switzerland
arctos machine mtb brushed, 199x, ashok, switzerland
arctos machine mtb brushed, 199x, scott, usa
arctos machine mtb oval tt polished, 199x, ashok, switzerland
arctos machine mtb polished, 199x, ashok, switzerland
arctos machine mtb fuck you, 199x, noah, singapore
arctos machine mtb polished, 199x, stevan, usa
arctos machine paragon machine works road, 700c, polished, 1992, ashok, switzerland
arctos machine road 650c raw, ashok, switzerland
arctos machine tandem, 1990, bicycle guide, 1990/04
arctos machine train hopping, 1991, ashok, switzerland
arctos machine tandem, 199x, xy, usa
...
one-off mtb, brushed, 1990, noah, singapore
one-off mtb, leni fried, 1991, ashok, switzerland
one-off mtb, brushed, 1992, ashok, switzerland
one-off sling-shot mtb, 1991, ashok, switzerland
one-off mtb, leni fried, 1993, alex, germany
one-off mtb, leni fried, 1996, jim, canada
one-off mtb, 199x, xy 01, xy
one-off mtb, 199x, xy 02, xy
one-off mtb, leni fried, 199x, xy 05, xy
one-off mtb, leni fried, 199x, 06, lawrence, usa
...
one-off road, 650c, ballou honeytube, 1992, ashok, switzerland
one-off road, 650c, softride, 199x, peter, usa
one-off road, 700c, leni fried, richard karpay, 199x, ashok, switzerland
one-off road, 700c, leni fried, 199x, ashok, switzerland
one-off road, 700c, 199x, marcus, usa
one-off road, 700c, leni fried, 199x, rick, usa
...
one-off tandem, titandemonium, 1993, ej & rick, usa
...
one-off trials wo seatpost, leni fried, 1988, ashok, switzerland
one-off trials, 199x, jim trigonis, usa
...
one-off small wheels, 1991, paul, usa
one-off small wheels, moulton, 199x, xy, xy
...
one-off kids, leni fried, 199x, ashok, switzerland
...
 
 
         
many thanks to every owner for their pictures! you got more pictures or more infos about the equipment, please contact me at newsboy at merlintitanium.com.
merlintitanium.com