Re: [CR] Mercian

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing:Falck)

From: "cmontgomery" <cmontgomery15@cox.net>
To: <gpvb1@comcast.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <122820051920.9203.43B2E59900057C39000023F32206424613CE0D909F09@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [CR] Mercian
Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 21:29:30 -0700



> Subject: [CR]Mercian (Duncan Granger)
>
> I recently bought a Mercian on Ebay:
> http://ebay.com/<blah> According to the serial number, the frame was made in 1986. But
> I'm curious about the add-ons. It's full 531. The frame has campy drops (w/
> mudguard eyes), and campy cable guides on top of the BB shell. There are no shifter bosses brazed on to the down-tube (although there is the ubiquitous pip to prevent clamp-on shifters from sliding down the tube). There is no front-derailleur hanger brazed on, either. Overall, a beautiful frame with
> clean, simple lines.
> So I guess that's my question: why would Mercian build a frame without shifter bosses and front derailleur hanger as late as 1986? Surely the customer spec'd it this way? It's a very large frame (65 cm c-to-t), so I'm guessing it's not "off the rack" - although I admit I do not know if/when Mercian started doing "off the rack" frames... Was there a demand, even in 1986, for "retro" frames on which to hang your old campy or other racing components?
> So why no bosses and front hanger?


> Greg Parker:
> That's an easy one! The answer is: to allow the owner of an off-the-rack frame some flexibility in how he or she can choose to build it up. Shifter bosses are limiting, ditto front derailleur braze-ons. Plus, both take time (and therefore cost the builder money) to add to a Production frame. I'm betting that what you have is a stock 25-1/2" frameset. Pretty standard "Large" size in a British frame.

Duncan, Greg pretty well nailed it. I have an '86 Olympic. It was their basic production frame (531C) with nothing but the little doodah under the downtube for clamp-ons. But Mercian would "customize" their production models with extra doodahs. My Olympic came with brake cable housings along top tube, shifter braze-ons, an extra eyelet on the rear brazed above the standard Campy one, AND (here's a rare one) threaded holes in chainstay and brake bridges for mudguards. Oh, and it was built for allen-headed calipers also. I wonder if the original owner really saved any money?

Craig Montgomery
Tucson