[CR] 80's Mercier

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

From: "Peter & Monique" <pjrogers@rogers.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 22:50:58 -0400
Subject: [CR] 80's Mercier


Dear All, Does anyone know when Mercier started to use grey/silver 'M' logo on the head and the same "M" with a crown on the seat tube? Also, during this period, the down tube had "mercier" in grey/silver script characters

It seems that during the mid-seventies to early eighties they were using the large block lettering on the seat tube and down tube and these bikes can be seen on most later photos of the Mercier team.

I have a Mercier with the later "m" logo on the head tube and seat tube. It has many of the characteristics of the the earlier frames (heart-shaped cut-outs in the lugs etc), but it has sloping front fork tops with the Mercier crown logo and the word "mercier" stamped into them. The forks are fully chromed and the ends are made by Vitus. The tubes are Columbus. No mudguard eyes and close clearances. The bike is fully fitted with Campagnolo equipment.

Finally, the bike is painted in a metallic pink.

I have seen other Merciers with the same decals, but so far getting a fix on the date has alluded me.

The rear derailleur is a Nuovo Record date stamped 1981, but I know that Mercier was not using the same decal design duing this time. I think that the frame may be later and could have been fitted from a bin of spare new parts from various dates. Not sure though.

Can anyone help? Does anyone know of a similar bike?

Your help will be much apprciated.

Kind regards, Peter Rogers

Barrie, Ontario