Re: [CR]Is it really a 60s Team Mercier? Now 70s Mercier Catalog Spec's

(Example: Framebuilders:Jack Taylor)

From: <IKersey@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:49:55 EDT
Subject: Re: [CR]Is it really a 60s Team Mercier? Now 70s Mercier Catalog Spec's
To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org, nickzz@mindspring.com


The following spec's are extracted from an early to mid 70s Mercier catalog from Beacon Cycle and Supply Co.:

Model 300: Reynolds 531 double butted frame, front and rear forks. Chromium plated front fork ends. Simplex Criterium front and rear gear changers. Simplex frame mount shift controls. Normandy Competition Dural QR large flange hubs Stronglight headset. Stronglight professional crank set and chainwheel 46 x 52 (picture looks like a Stronglight 93). Simplex cable clips. Dural pedals with reflectors. Chrome seat post. MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters. Atom 66 competition freewheel 14 x 24. Sedis chain. Mavic Monthlery alloy rims. Chromed straight gauge spokes. Hutchinson tubular sew-up racing tires. Ideale 2000 molded saddle. Dural handlebar. Dural AMC handlebar stem. Tornade Dural ringed pump with AFA express connector. Brazed-on pump clips. Toe clips and straps. Approximate Weight: 22 lbs. Colors: Orange, Red, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, Kelly Green, and Purple Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25"

Model 200: Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks. Chromium plated front fork ends. Simplex Prestige front and rear gear changers and frame mount shift controls. Normandy Dural QR large flange hubs Precision fork ends. 3 pin steel chainwheel 46 x 52. Brazed-on cable clips. Steel rattrap pedals with reflectors. MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters. Normandy freewheel 14 x 24. Sedis chain. Mavic Sport alloy rims. Butted rustless spokes. Hutchinson sew-up tubular racing tires. Molded vinyl covered saddle. Dural handlebar stem. Dural handlebar. Tornade Dural ringed pump with AFA express connector. Brazed-on pump clips. Toe clips and straps. Cloth handlebar tape. Special hand striping. Approximate Weight: 25 lbs. Colors: Orange, Red, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, Kelly Green, and Purple Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25"

Model 100 (and 111 Mixte): Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks. Chromium plated front fork ends. Simplex front and rear gear changers. Simplex frame mounted shift controls. Normandy Dural QR large flange hubs 3 pin steel chainwheel 40 x 52. Brazed-on cable clips. Rattrap steel pedals with reflectors. MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters. Normandy freewheel 14 x 28. Sedis chain. Rigida steel rims, serrated edges. Butted rustless spokes. Hutchinson high pressure gumwall tires. Molded vinyl saddle. Steel handlebar. Dural handlebar stem. Tornade Dural ringed pump. Brazed-on pump clips. Black handlebar tape. Special hand striping. Approximate Weight: 25 lbs. Colors: Orange, Red, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, Kelly Green, and Purple. Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25" (20" and 22" for mixte)

Model 90 (and 91 Mixte): Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks. Simplex front and rear gear changers. Simplex frame mount shift controls. Normandy large flange hubs with wingnuts. 3 pin steel chainwheel 40 x 52. Rattrap steel pedals with reflectors. LAM brakes with hooded levers and adjusters. Normandy freewheel 14 x 28. Sedis chain. Rigida steel rims, serrated edges. Butted rustless spokes. Hutchinson high pressure gumwall tires. Molded vinyl saddle. Steel handlebar. Dural handlebar stem. Black handlebar tape. Approximate Weight: 25 lbs. Colors: Blue and Yellow Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25" (20" and 22" for mixte)

Model 140 (and 141 Mixte -- both of these are children's 18" frame racers): Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks. Chromium plated front fork ends. Simplex Prestige front and rear gear changers. Simplex frame mounted shift controls. Normandy Dural QR large flange hubs 3 pin steel chainwheel 36 x 42. Brazed-on cable clips. Rattrap steel pedals with reflectors. MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters. Normandy freewheel 14 x 24. Sedis chain. Rigida steel rims, serrated edges. Butted rustless spokes. Hutchinson high pressure gumwall tires. Molded vinyl saddle. Steel handlebar. Dural handlebar stem. Tornade Dural ringed pump. Brazed-on pump clips. Black handlebar tape. Special hand striping. Approximate Weight: 25 lbs. Colors: Red, Lime Green, and Sky Blue Frame Sizes: 18" for both boys and mixte.

I purchased my 70s-something Mercier 300 off eBay a couple of years. It arrived equipped with Campy brakes and FD/RD/Shifters. I retro'ed it with MAFAC brakes and Simplex Super Competition FD/Criterium RD -- motivated by the fact that 1) I like quirky French stuff, 2) the seat post bolt inexplicable held an unused MAFAC rear brake cable hanger, and 3) based on the catalog spec's listed above.

The dropouts on my Mercier appear to be Simplex (similar in appearance to the those on my '73 PX-10; however, the chromed relief "SIMPLEX" label is not present on the Mercier's rear dropouts). Eyelets are present on both front and rear dropouts.

The wheel assembly consists of Normandy Luxe Competition (gold label) hubs laced to plain tubular rims (each of which have a single red rectangular decal [overlaying where the valve stem protrudes] that says "Made in France" and "Brevete SPDG" -- no other identifying marks).

I understand that during the Boom, French marques were slapping frames together as fast as they could, with whatever components their suppliers could provide, and zipping them off to the American market.

Ian Kersey
Williamsburg, VA