Definitely on-topic. I doubt that it was made for 27", but it probably does have extra tire clearance with "normal reach" brakes (longer reach, by today's standards). That being the case, it could well have been made in the 1970s, as a lot of Mercians came into the US then.
Mercian had/has a lot of different models, a lot of custom work, and a few styles from the past that aren't to be found in their current catalog or website, so it's not odd that you can't find yours there. But here are a couple places to look for pictures of Mercian bikes that might be close to yours: There is the CR Mercian page:
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
and there is a Mercian registry which has some pictures:
http://genetics.mgh.harvard.edu/
and here is my own page of bikes, which features an older Mercian:
http://www.highlandschools.org/
Also, the serial number should help you determine the year your bike was made. Either the first two, or last two digits will be the year it was made -- I can't be specific, because it changed at some point, so with some bikes it is the first two numbers, and other bikes it is the last two digits.
Mercians are great bikes - old or new. I have two of them, and would love to find more.
Kyle Brooks
Akron, Ohio
> [Original Message]
> From: <CPOTZ@aol.com>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Date: 11/21/2006 2:53:41 PM
> Subject: [CR]Mercian bike details?
>
> Hi all I have just aquired a Mercian road bike that may well fall into
the
> CR timeline, only I don't know which model it is or where the serial
number
> is, any ideas?
> It is fitted with 700 wheels but may have originaly been built for 27"
also
> fork crown is a 'Wagner' one -flat topped, the transfers are mid 60's
> onwards,it is original paint etc and is in very fine condition,I have
been on
> Mercians site but cannot match the model.
>
> Steve Chambers
> Chesterfield
> England