Dear Tod and all, as you have probably guessed your frame isn't a
Mercian. Mercian have only ever used Reynolds tubing so the references
to Tange are a giveaway. Also the frame number isn't what you would
expect to see on a Mercian. Mercian frame numbering consists of the
number of the frame built that year followed by the year of manufacture,
sometimes this system was reversed to have the year of manufacture
first. For instance 26876 would be the 268th frame built in 1976, so
obviously your frame wasn't built in 1933 or 1937, also there should be
a single number near the main frame number denoting the builder of the
frame. Sorry to disappoint but your frame looks like a quality Tange
tubed frame which someone has applied Mercian decals to. Check out my
latest visit to Mercian cycles here -
http://www.bikebrothers.co.uk/
Nic Henderson
Newport
UK
> Howdy,
>
> I picked up a frame today off of Craigslist. Looked interesting
> lugged with canti bosses no eyelets.. 20 bucks.. The paint is in
> gross condition, somebody started stripping and stopped halfway
> through. There are remnants of Mercian decals all over the bike
> (headtube,seattube.downtube). It has diamond shaped cut outs in the
> lugs, italian concave seat stays looking.. On one of the paint levels
> i found a remnant of Tange tubing sticker.. the fork steer says
> Tange.. The dropouts are Suntour GS. The serial number is also odd..
> 378033... All of which does not seem to point to any Mercian I
> researched this afternoon..
>
> here are few pics...
>
> http://new.photos.yahoo.com/
>
> if anybody has a ideas.. i would be thankful .. thanks
>
> Tod Kapke
> Denver