What is interesting about Mercier is that whereas their pro-team used Campagnolo equipment, very few of their production bikes - if ebay sales are anything to go by - were fitted with Campagnolo. Nearly all the frames that come onto the market now have Simplex dropouts, until about 1980 when they switched mostly to Vitus dropouts which will accommodate both Simplex and Campagnolo gears.
I think, as with Gitane, sponsored amateur teams typically used French equipment and it would seem like most of the paying customers did too, judging by what people are selling now.
Poulidor joined Mercier in 1960, but in years of looking I have not seen a Campagnolo-equipped Mercier from that era.
Some months ago there was some discussion about Mercier decals and I was hoping to get some made, but have been severely delayed for a multitude of reasons. Anyway, if you check ebay you will see that cyclomondo has beaten me to it, producing a set of decals after the style of those fitted to 1977 and later Service Des Courses frames. I have yet to order a set, but expect to do so shortly.
Hugh Thornton
Cheshire, England.
From: Norris Lockley <nlockley73@gmail.com> Subject: [CR] My Lejeune ( Now French bikes with Campagnolo) To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Saturday, 22 January, 2011, 10:53
In reply to Scott Gabriel's and Owen Wrigley's queries about French brands
other than Lejeune, Gitane and Motobecane using Campagnolo equipment, the
other high profile
company was MERCIER.
>From the date that Raymond Poulidor became their star rider,the Pro team
always used Campagnolo equipment and the firm produced several high end
models siimilarly equipped.
Norris LOckley
Settle UK