Vintage Mercian, but which one?

[GosforthBike]

I've just won an eBay auction for a "barn find" Mercian that I'm planning on making my next restoration.

From the pictures it doesn't look in great nick, but hopefully nothing a bead blast and powder coat won't fix.

It looks to have some nice campag components that will hopefully clean up nicely too, though I might go with something a bit more modern for the build (got a couple of 90's groupsets lying around).

Now the reason for posting, does anyone know how to identify which model this is?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381636037762

As long as it cleans up nicely I'm not too worried. It was fairly local and I quite fancied something with th wrap around seat stays, but it would be nice to get a bit more info.

 

[Midlife]

Nice find . Ask Mercian what it is from the frame number

Shaun

 

[GosforthBike]

Thanks. I had planned to do that, but not picking it up until the middle of the week. Being the impatient type I was hoping for a bit of info before that!

 

[COUPES]

Re:

Is there any serial number? I'm no Mercian expert but just because it says Mercian it may not be???? Did you get detailed pictures of the lugs or dropouts?

Simon

 

[GosforthBike]

That's my fear Simon. Picking it up on Wednesday so I will find out then. The pics on the eBay listing is all I have.

I kind of figured at the price I paid I could always break it for parts and get most of my cash back.

 

[Jamiedyer]

I think it looks pretty genuine from the overall picture, just a bit unloved recently, but can never be 100% until you see it.
I seen one recently that had a similar wrap around stay and wondered about its legitimacy, but someone confirmed it was a feature on some older Mercians. I enlarged the pic to see if the top of the stay had 'Mercian' on it as couldn't make out from the normal pic, bit hard to say 100% but don't think it did which would rule out a King Of Mercia model. It does have two dents in the side of the top tube toward the seatpost end, both close together and only small.
For that money though it has to be worth a shot, I am sure its a Mercian frame and even if only half the parts are serviceable then its still a bargain.
I look forward to seeing you bring this one back, all the very best of luck with this.

Jamie

 

[GosforthBike]

Thanks Jamie. That was my logic. I noticed the dents, but hoping they fairly superficial and can be filled at the powder coaters.

 

[Jamiedyer]

They did look very small, nothing a silver solder fill and wipe wouldn't sort quick smart. Handlebar ding by the looks of it.

Jamie

 

[GosforthBike]

Re:

Well I finally picked the bike up this evening and it looks a bit of a mixed bag. I haven't had time to check it over in detail yet, but I'm struggling to find a frame number. I've checked the bottom bracket shell and dropouts and there doesn't appear to be anything. The paint work shows signs of how it might have been and the finish is what I would expect from Mercian. The rust is not too bad and it should be fine after a bead blast.

Parts wise there is a Campagnolo Record high flange front hub, but unfortunately the rear doesn't match and is a rusty steel number. The rear mech is a Campag Gran Sport with a little surface rust. The front is Campag too, but not sure which model yet. There's also some Camps braze on levers.

For the brakes there's Weinmann levers and a Weinmann front side pull, but on the back a Mafac Racer centre pull.

A quick look on VeloBase tells me the chipset is a Zeus Competition.

The bars are GB and quite narrow, so despite being a nice old set probably too narrow for me.

Like I said a mixed bag. Now decide what to do with it all!

 

[GTTIT]

Re:

The frame number will be stamped in the fork steerer if it's a Mercian I believe.