Silk Hope~McLean
Serial number registry
Frame sizes are as-provided by owner/submitter.
McLean generally used "center-to-top" seat tube measurements ("British style")

Updated 11.19.2023  

   The 5 digit serial number represents:
   M prefix = McLean (not Silk Hope & therefore 1979 or later)
   1st two digits = day of the month completed
   2nd set of two digits = month "
   Last digit = last number of year (1976 would be "6")

         (Special thanks to With Sherman Coventry)
 

Owner

Description, special features

Serial number

Estimated year of manufacture
1 Henry Fonvielle "McLean’s first frame (I think).  He made it for himself but when he made himself a new one he gave it to me." (Henry is McLean's younger brother) 0265 From number, one would guess March 1975 but we think it is actually 1972
2 Nick Ozerov Bought from son of orig owner (now deceased) for whom McLean made it as a custom touring. Solidly built but not as sophisticated in detail as later models. This is a very, very early frame set. None The orig owners son thought 1973?
3 Dale Brown Silk Hope Perfect Pleasure. 57 x 57. Very early frame, repainted & braze-ons added in 1980. 1511
(Doesn't fit pattern)		 1973?
4 McLean's sister "Silk Hope never built up! This frame belongs to McLean's sister, a friend of mine who received the frame just after he died. She thought McLean had bartered the frame to Alan Taylor, a graphic artist who had done work for McLean." Jim Mincher  Pictures 2810 1974?
5 Sam Eckhardt  Silk Hope, Built in 1974.
"Delivered to me in March of 1975		 1212(4?) Dec 12, 1974
6 Mike Dayton Silk Hope mod. "Perfect Pleasure" 57.5 x 57.5 cmOriginal owner, Dan Borden Pictures 402 9081
(Doesn't fit pattern)		 1974?
7 Nancy Ross Williams Silk Hope 28025  Feb 28, 1975
8 Richard McGough Silk Hope, made it for me in June of 1975 10065 June 10, 1975
9 Diane Davis Midnight blue Silk Hope. Bought used 1977 08315
(thought to have first 4 digits transposed from later pattern)		 Aug 31, 1975?
10 John Poplett Silk Hope, Burgundy. Purchased at Turin bicycle shop, downtown Chicago 21035 Mar 21, 1975
11 Cy Hogue Silk Hope road racing. This was said by the
owner to be the 1st racing frame; only touring models before		 02055 May 2, 1975
12 David Frederiksen Picture 22095 Sept 17, 1975
13 Dale Brown Silk Hope. Orig. owner, fastback stays blind binder bolt, DuBois lugs. Pictures 17105 Oct 17, 1975
14 Karen Rawls  53 cm seat tube,   56 cm top. Picture 18016 Jan 18, 1976
15 David Mills road 01026 Feb 1976
16 Tom Mills road 02026 Feb 1976
17 Rance Singleton 54.5 x 55.5 road Pictures 18066  June 18, 1976
18 Sherman Coventry Silk Hope "Perfect Pleasure"
Mack truck green 63 cm		 15076 July 15, 1976
19 Paul Normandin Silk Hope 22116 Nov 22, 1975
  Bill Remillard
59cm, Ascot Blue originally purchased by Lawrence Killingsworth in Nov. 1976 for $416.68  from the The Clean Machine in Chapel Hill, NC
 01116 Nov 11, 1976
20 Jack Gabus Silk Hope Perfect Pleasure Nervex Dubois lugs, Wagner crown, Campagnolo 1010A dropouts, Reynolds 531 db. 54.5 cm seat tube (c-to-top) x 56 cm top tube Pictures Orig owner Chuck Cotter via Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC 23037 Mar 23, 1977
21   Tandem with double "boob" tube Pictures One of the very few tandems made  23047 April 23, 1977
22 Dale Brown Silk Hope ultra touring, Nervex Series Legere lugs. Pictures Via Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC. Orig. owner 19087  Aug 19, 1977
23 Thomas Adam's Silk Hope 531 touring  63 cm center-to-top, Pictures 12097 Sept 12, 1977
24 Todd Jenkins Silk Hope 11117 Nov 11, 1977
25 Bill Kloos Silk Hope Perfect Pleasure
60 cm x 60 cm		 01038 Mar 1, 1978
26 Ken Toda Silk Hope Pictures 21038 Mar 21, 1978
27 Mike Dayton Silk Hope  Pictures Original owner was Richard Lawrence 28048 April 28, 1978
28   McLean. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M23038  Mar 23, 1978
29 Tim McDonald  McLean  M21048 April 21, 1978
30 David Goldman Blue, w Campy headset, SR bar and stem, Suntour f der, Shimano rear, DiaCompe brake set. M22048 April 22,1978
31 Mike Dayton Silk Hope road, original owner Richard Lawrence From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC Pictures 28048  April 28, 1978
32 Jack Gabus McLean with Reynolds 531 Cinelli lugs. Resurrected after found totally crashed. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M07058 May 7, 1978
33 Jack Mitchell* Silk Hope. From Toga Bike Shop  Greensboro, NC 15058

  May 15,  1978
34   McLean, orig owner Syndee Lowdermilk. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M19068 June 19, 1978
35 Eddie Herndon* Perfect Pleasure. From  Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M21068  June 1978
36 Paul Hamilton Silk Hope 55 x 55 road, Columbus tubing w fastback stays. Orig owner John Kraus. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC  Pictures 28068.0  June 28, 1978
37

Geoffrey Wagner

 McLean Perfect Pleasure blue metallic. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC  Pictures M26088 Aug 26, 1978
38 Jack Tharp Tandem, "mocca-reddish" M22098 Sept 22, 1978
39 Doug Stephens McLean road racing 23108 Oct 23, 1978
40 Bill Eberle Blue 23-1/2", probably mod "Perfect Pleasure" M09118 Nov 9, 1978
41 Scott Swimmer

Perfect Pleasure design. The last "Silk Hope" made. Note unique serial number.  Scott, being a close friend, had a hand in it's finishing.  Pictures

  SLS•121 Winter of 1979
42 John DeLapp "I was a graduate student at Duke and was hit as I was biking home. My skull was fractured and the bike frame and wheels were trashed. ... into a shop (Clean Machine in Carrboro) looking to buy... there was this really nice guy (McLean Fonvielle) who quietly said “I can make you a frame”. I ended up at his shop drinking cider and getting measured for a new frame. I took the bike with me when I moved to Alaska in the early 1980s." M23019 Jan 23, 1979
43 Pat Pattison Tandem, white. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC. Now in NC Transportation Museum Pictures M31019

Jan 31, 1979
44 Tom Hailey III Burgundy  M21039 Mar 21, 1979
45 Stewart Leonard* 53 cm Perfect Pleasure, Ascot blue From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M03049

 April 3, 1979
46 Terry Miller Touring in light blue M04049 April 4, 1979
47 Mike Dayton McLean 531 touring, white  Pictures From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M12049  April 12, 1979.
48 Patrick Craft McLean racing, KL tubing. originally ordered by Robert Kraus, partner, Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC Pictures M20049.0  April 20, 1979
49 Roman Stankus Bought from McLean in Chapel Hill Pictures TBA 1979
50 Dave Boston McLean Criterium 5 speed. "Picked it up at McLeans" M26049

April 26, 1979

51 Gene Moninger  531 touring, from Continental Cyclery in Wichita, KS in 1990  M21059

May 21, 1979
52 Jeff Carr* 54 cm Perfect Pleasure, white. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M31079  July 31, 1979
53 Roger Webster Perfect Pleasure, jet black. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC Feb 1980 M17089 Aug 17, 1979
54 Catherine Vanneman* Perfect Pleasure, jet black. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M07099  Sept 7, 1979
55 Jack Gabus Creamy white color, 54 x 54, cantilever brakes M14099 Sept 14, 1979
56 Kevin Kelly Custom touring. Bought in Vermont. Had been built for a bike shop owner M06109

Oct 6, 1979
57 Felix Mathews* Perfect Pleasure. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M01119 Nov 1, 1979
58 Kim Hamorsky* 38 cm mixte McLean. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M14119 Nov 14,1979
59 Greg Krasovsky Road bike M12129 Dec 12,1979
60 Casey Robertson Road, pictured with Casey riding it on the cover of Grit-CX magazine.  M18129 Dec 18, 1979
61 Tony Martin McLean 52 cm Pictures. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M08020 Feb 8, 1980
62 Rodney Handsfield McLean road racing design, Columbus SL tubing, Cinelli lugs and bbkt.  NOS. Never built up as complete bike or ridden. Pictures M29020

 Feb 29, 1980.

63 Grady Linehan 60 cm Road racing or possible a "Perfect Pleasure" model, Reynolds 531, full Cinelli fitments. Pictures M05030 Mar 5, 1980
64 Dale Brown McLean racing tricycle (only trike McLean made, frame dismantled to make single speed bike, to be reconstructed) From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC. Ordered by Erwin Elber, ridden once, then rebuilt into single speed bike M17040

 April 17,1980
65 Bill Kloos  58 cm Criterium or Perfect Pleasure frame M17060 June 17, 1980
66   57 cm McLean Criterium, Saddle metallic. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M22070

 July 22, 1980
67 Satoshi Suzuki* McLean, green. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC M12080

 Aug 12, 1980
68 David Poole McLean  531 tubing road. From Toga Bike Shop, Greensboro, NC M27080

Aug 27, 1980
69 John Provetero Perfect pleasure Pictures M30080 Aug 30, 1980
70 Jack Gabus McLean road racing  Pictures M17110 Nov 17, 1980
71 Bruce Wilcox McLean Perfect Pleasure 23 1/4" frame. Purchased new from Two Wheel Travel in Richmond, VA M10120

 Dec 10, 1980
72 John Provetero McLean M13120 Dec 13, 1981
73 George Milewski Orig. owner M04021 Feb 4, 1981
74 Joe Bender-Zanoni Orig. owner. Metallic blue Perfect Pleasure bought from Two Wheel Transit in Richmond, VA Pictures M28021 Feb 28, 1981 
75 Sally Meserole Criterium. purple and silver, From Two Wheeler Dealer, Wilmington, NC  M04731

Mar 4, 1981

76 Jim Mincher Perfect Pleasure/touring  blue and silver. From Two Wheeler Dealer, Wilmington, NC M24031

Mar 24, 1981

77 George Handy 48cm c-c,  531 with short-point lugs. Medium metallic blue. M28031 Mar 28, 1981
78 H Kyle Anderson  McLean  M22041 April 28, 1981
  Dale Brown Small size touring Orig owner, Sally Meresole M11051 May 11, 1981
79 Craig Tronzo Original owner. McLean Criterium frost green, Columbus SL,  sloping Cinelli fork crown Pictures M22051  May 22, 1981.
80 Mike Dayton Blue metallic with sew up tires M16061 June 16, 1981
81 Mike Wilkinson Silk Hope~McLean M30071 July 30, 1981
82 Tom Sanders McLean touring Pictures M26081 Aug 26, 1981
83 Scott Sorbe Perfect Pleasure model, 25" Burnt orange   Pictures M28081 Aug 28, 1981
84 Dale Brown Touring, 48 cm x 50.5 cm M02091 Sept 2, 1981
85 Billy Boden Road Pictures M10101 Oct 10, 1981
86 Matt Lackey 65cm McLean of Reynolds 531, dark blue.  M19012 Jan 19, 1982
87 Wayne Bingham McLean racing. From Toga Bike Shop Greensboro, NC  Pictures M 22012

 Jan 22, 1982
88 Tom Hayes McLean touring M29012 Jan 29, 1982
89 Bill Kloos   M12022 Feb 12, 1982
90 Steve Meier  McLean Pictures M16022 Feb 16, 1982
91 Joe Young Light touring 60 cm M05032 Mar 5, 1982
92   "Perfect Pleasure" Pictures M22032   Mar 22,1982
93 eBay auction by theproscloset Road racing (no eyelets) orange Pictures M25032   Mar 25,1982
94 Jeremy Schott Racing, full Campagnolo  Pictures M29032   Mar 29,1982
95 Diane Davis McLean, custom built (Had 2 Silk Hopes prior to this) M26042   April 26,1982
96 Dale Brown Touring, green and white. Orig owner, Sally MeseroleFrom Two Wheel Dealer, Wilmington, NC M11052

  May 11,1982
97 Jim Mincher Criterium  red and yellow, from Two Wheel Dealer, Wilmington, NC M31052

  May 31,1982

98 Robert Brown Perfect Pleasure 61.5 cm to top, Cinelli CM lugs, Haden fork crown, concave seat stay top eyes. M16062 June 16, 1982
99 Mike Kone Perfect Pleasure Pictures M28062 June 28, 1982
100 Tom Ash Custom road, still owned by original owner in Durham M21082  Aug 21, 1982
101 Edward Coffman Picked it up at McLean’s house in Durham and road it home   M27082 Aug 27, 1982
102 Jack Gabus McLean racing, heart-shaped cutout lugs   Pictures M16092 Sept 16, 1982
103   McLean road, est. size 56 cm, Firethorn metallic. Sold on eBay 2020. M08102 Sept 8, 1982
104 Ed McKee McLean road in Ascot Blue M26013 Jan 26, 1983
105 Joe Young 56 cm custom road for 26" or 700C wheels and used side pull brakes or Moots mounts. "This bike was found in the bead blaster after McLean died. Could be his last frame?" M09023

Feb 9, 1983
 

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