Much thanks to all who responded to my query! I wanted clincher rims that were close to period correct for my newly acquired nos Mercian Professional frameset (late 70's), AND I knew that sew-ups were the real deal.... but I do not do the sew-up thing anymore (I want to ride this bike often, and I wear tubies out quickly). I found a source of new MA40's, and would have preferred a silver colored set of 700C Super Champions or similar, but Lord knows that good old nos clinchers are hard to find!!!
Instead, I am building this bike up to be like I would have had (wanted) in high school (Nuovo Record), but actually with a twist since I could not afford NR/SR in 1980. Not like I can now either! I worked in a shop that sold many Mercians, and I now have the frame, a true beauty in polycromatic metallic silver. Beautiful long spearpoint BB lugs, drilled with holes, same with the head and seat tube lugs, and fork crown. Back then I opted for a mix-mash of high quality parts (Nadac Favorit BB, Universal brakes, Galli headset and blue anodized crank, Superbe front/rear derailleurs and shifters, Brooks Pro small rivet, Laprade seatpost, Mavic GP4 tubies, Sunshine hubs, KKT Pro-Ace pedals).
This "new" bike will be mostly Nuovo Record, a Super Record crank, Cyclone nutted brake calipers, Victory levers, Nitto bar/stem, and B-17 honey saddle. It will be a true rider, and when I can find them and afford them I will add the Nuovo Record nutted calipers and NR headset in English threads. I probably had more satisfaction from my old ride than I will with this, but I never had a Mercian until now! This ride will be sublime, I can feel that! The heart of a bike is always the frame as we all say. I will send pics for CR posting when completed. Pics of the spearpoint lugs can be seen below on my link. Thanks to all who have helped me get to this point!
Tony Zanussi
KCMO
http://hometown.aol.com/