In a message dated 10/16/2002 6:32:48 PM Mountain Daylight Time, hirelevel@mindspring.com writes:
> I just won the auction for a Mercier but was I really thinking it was a
> Mercian?
>
These two marques should not be confused. They are utterly and conmpletely different.
Mercier: French, and French-threaded. Wider range of frame quality, from gas pipe to pro racer. Generally low finish quality, but still, some respectable frames, in the higher range. Gas pipe in the lower range. Generally mediocre paint.
Mercian. English, and of course English-threaded. Smaller range of frame
quality. In the "old" days ('60's and earlier?), I think they made Reynolds
straight-gauge frames, with stamped drops, as well as full butted 531 with
forged drops, but since the mid-70's or so I have not been aware of anything
but full butted 531. Could be wrong. Fairly high finish quality and pretty
good paint. See their website for their current products.
http://www.btinternet.com/
Aesthetically appropriate parts for a Mercian and a Mercier would likely be fairly different, eg stronglight/mafac/simplex for a Mercier, maybe weinmann/stronglight/campy for an older Mercian .
Depending on what you paid, you might have an interesting bike, either way.
02 worth.
Peter Bridge
Thornton, CO