Mercian welded frame - 1949
Posted: Wednesday 19th August 2020
I had never ridden a Mercian until I tried one in 2007, I enjoyed riding it so much it inspired me to restore this welded frame which was sitting unloved in our garage. What clinched it was when I found that I could get the correct transfers which are of an earlier type, as shown below. Although the frame had braze-ons for gears the rear ends were only 105mm so I could only squeeze in (and it was a squeeze) a four-speed block to go with the Simplex Tour de France gear. Again it rides beautifully.
| Frame | Mercian welded frame - number 4953 (1949); road ends; 24” to top of top tube - 24½” to top of clamp; 23¾” top tube; 17” chainstays; 74° head 72° seat; brazed-on down tube Simplex gear lever boss plus BB pulley and cable eye on chainstay; brake eyes under top tube; pump pegs rear nearside of seat tube; grease nipple BB; mudguard eyes on ends: Forks oval to round with 2¾” rake. Original finish copied by Mario Vaz |
| Wheels | 27" Weinmann rims on Bayliss Wiley SF hubs 15/17 DB spokes |
| Chainset | Chater Lea steel 6½” chainset with round cranks and 46 x 3/32 chainring |
| Pedals | Lyotard with Christophe toeclips and straps |
| Gears | Simplex Tour de France 4-speed with Simplex braze-on lever with wing nut adjuster - 4-speed block 15-24 teeth |
| Brakes | GB Coureur front and rear brake with early Superhood levers - white cables |
| Stem/Bars | GB alloy spearpoint stem - 3½" with GB Maes Alloy bars 38cm |
| Saddle | Brooks B15 Swallow |
| Extra details | Model with early transfers, down tube ‘MERCIAN’ cascades rather than side by side lettering. Head badge has names of both Crowther and Barker. Fitted with dark green Bluemels mudguards for winter riding. |
Thanks for reading
Posted: Wednesday 19th August 2020
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