Steve Kinne here,
I sold Mercier 100, 200 and 300's and Jeunet 110, 220 and 330's (and Raleighs) out of Precision Cycle in Putnam Connecticut in the early 1970's, our distributor was Beacon Cycle in Boston. I bought an emerald green (Beacon was sold out of blue, the best color) Mercier Model 300 myself, $250 retail, $208 wholesale, rode it about 500 miles and broke my knee for good so that was that. Still have the 500 mile bike in my basement. Nice lug lining but I think they are transfers on the seat and downtube.
Equipment:
531DB throughout Simplex forged rear dropuots, stamped front dropouts (what were they thinking?) Nervex pro fork crown Bocama medium point lugs, about the same length points as a Nervex Dubois, 75 degree head angle, trick handling for a Frenchie! Pressed bb shell Box was marked 25" but it measures more like just under 24" (what were they thinking?).
Stronglight 93 crank 175mm 45-52 I think Pivo bars and stem Stronglight headset Mafac Racers, white half hoods Simplex Criterium with the plastic covered metal shift levers Normandy Sport (what were they thinking?) hubset, Atom QR and AVA rims, 36H 4X double butted Robergel? Atom/Maillard block Simplex TT cable guides (3) Lyotard alloy pedals Plain steel seat pin and clamp with a real cheapo quilted plastic covered padded hard plastic racing saddle (what were they thinking?)
I am not sure about tires, maybe Hutchinson Sprints
21 lbs
Replaced the saddle with a real trick looking ultralight weight drilled plastic Unicanitor I swiped off an Italian job in the shop. I don't know if it made the bike go faster but it sure looked like it did. Also replaced the Simplex Criterium rear with a Super LJ in the late 1970's but have the Criterium to go retro. Unfortunately the original saddle is lost to the world, which can be argued is a better place for it. Other than the tires and saddle the bike is original down to the bar tape.
I'll tell you about the early 1970's PX-10 with 100 miles on it that's 100% original down to the tires and rim cement sometime (grease is not though). Thanks Bob H!
Steve "used to be a Fench fan but the events of the last several weeks have caused me to question my own judgement" Kinne
Fairfield, CT
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