[CR] Hello :-) and Help! Trying to identify a Mercier frameset

(Example: Framebuilders:Alex Singer)

Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:11:25 +0100
From: "Leon Gierat" <leon.gierat@googlemail.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR] Hello :-) and Help! Trying to identify a Mercier frameset


Hi Everyone,

I think I was on this mailing list before, but quite a long time ago, so hello again. As a brief intro to myself, I ride road, MTB and cross, have raced all three, but am generally too busy with the family to take competition too seriously these days.

I've also been hanging onto a few vintage (?) bies and frames for years, thinking that one day I would do something with them, and this is the beginning of that journey. To come is a 1936 Claud Butler, and a 1950's or 1960's Carpenter 531 tandem, with Campy bits (not a full set, sadly). Not sure when I'll get around to those though.

So my first project? I am trying to identify a Mercier. I know it's a Mercier, because it has a nice embossed "Mercier" on either side of the Fork Crown, an an embossed "M & Crown" at the top of the chain stays, and basically looks very similair to this one here, but there are differences:

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/bc_stockwell_bikestuff/pink-mercier/?g2_page=1

with the same drilled dropouts, and lugwork, etc. It has a 126mm rear spacing. It has a 27.2 Campagnolo seatpost (original?). It's not a record, I don't think. It's not polished enough, but it's fluted with a nice anodized head.

Forks were chromed, and the fork dropouts are "Tange". You can see from the BB cable guides are Campy.

You can also see the original pink paint showing through under the nasty home respray. It's a sort of metallic, deep pink.

Can anyone help me identify the model, quality, and the sort of decals etc I should source for it. I'm going to restore it as a period bike, but not go for a "catalogue" spec (even if there was such a thing). It will be built as the sort of bike that someone of the time would have ridden (i.e. all my current bikes have a mix and match of contemporary equipment that I like).

Pictures here to help the identification:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/leon.gierat/Mercier?authkey=Gv1sRgCNX807blptXI2gE

Leon Gierat,
Bristol, UK