Ian, sorry for replying so late. We just got back into town. It sounds like this is a Mercier 100. Somewhat equal to a Peugeot UO-8. The "200" had a little better parts selection and three tubes 531. The "300" was the Peugeot PX-10 counter with the same parts and a full 531 frameset. Nice bike, but not worth a whole lot. $200.00 to $250.00 sounds right if its in near mint condition. I am not quite sure if they kept the 1, 2 and 300 number designations from the beginning. Have fun.
Don Andersen
>Need some help identifying a recently acquired Mercier.
>
>Bike is a royal blue with off-white head tube lugs. Has chromed fork and
>seat/chain stays (forkhead has an odd chrome cap piece overlaying fork,
>providing the illusion that the forkhead is polished chrome). Comes
>equipped
>with Simplex Prestige rear derailleur (dated 2/70), Simplex front
>derailleur,
>Simplex dropouts (on the right, freewheel side dropout, "JUY" is inscribed
>in
>front of "SIMPLEX"), Mafac Racer brakes, Nervar crankset (52/40), Atom
>14-26
>freewheel, lyotard pedals, Ideale 80 saddle, 27" Mavic rims (MA-2) with
>Normandy HF hubs and MM-Atom quick release skewers.
>
>Headtube has red/silver foil Mercier logo identical to those on the Classic
>Rendezvous Mercier page. Bike's serial number (same as on BB) is imprinted
>on the logo. Under the foil headbadge there is a "Made in France" sticker
>with french tricolor.
>
>The top tube has two white pinstripes that cross over in the middle. The
>down tube has "MERCIER" stylized block lettering that appears to be
>stenciled
>on instead of a decal.
>
>The seat tube has an off-white center with three blue bands above and
>below.
>In the center there is a gold and silver foil rectangular badge with a very
>small blue heraldic shield at the top, a red/white/blue stylized french
>cock,
>and then a large gold "M" with very fine print "Saint Etienne" on either
>side
>of it.
>
>Also on the seat tube, just below the top tube, there is a silver foil
>label
>with 3 interlocking, red, white, and blue rings and the words "Tubes
>Alleges
>Special Pro."
>
>Allons-y, mes francophilic, retro-grouch amis -- please help me identify
>the
>model and value of my latest acquisition.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Ian