Identifying Seventies Mercier Models...
05-27-13, 05:32 AM
#1
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Identifying Seventies Mercier Models...
I would like to get the Mercier line-up straight in my head, if I can, and would appreciate the help of forum members. I have owend several Mercier bicycles, none of which could be considered to be high end. At any rate, can anyone identify the model, place in line-up and vintage of the following bicycles. My interest in new since I stumbled and actually paid for this lovely old Mercier a few days ago...
Mercier #1: Burgundy
The red one and the pink one both have pressed steel drops, front and back. The others all sport the Simplex rear drops with Simplex embossed (?) on them.
Anyway, model, position in line-up and approximate vintage of each of the following, please and if possible...
Mercier #2: Red
Mercier #3: Pink
Mercier #4: Brown
Mercier #5: Blue Mixte
Also, if you have pictures of other Mercier bicycles, feel free to add them to this thread. I would love to have a better understanding of them all.
Mercier #1: Burgundy
The red one and the pink one both have pressed steel drops, front and back. The others all sport the Simplex rear drops with Simplex embossed (?) on them.
Anyway, model, position in line-up and approximate vintage of each of the following, please and if possible...
Mercier #2: Red
Mercier #3: Pink
Mercier #4: Brown
Mercier #5: Blue Mixte
Also, if you have pictures of other Mercier bicycles, feel free to add them to this thread. I would love to have a better understanding of them all.
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
05-27-13, 09:03 AM
#2
In the right lane
There's a Mercier thread running currently with a couple of what seem to be Mercier 300s.
But identifying model and year is not so easy. This is a link to my attempt at identification. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Mercier-build
Also a help in distinguishing between models 100, 200, 300, etc ... have a look at this blog and scroll down to one of the comments. (I'll quote here..) https://retrobikerestorations.blogspo...6/mercier.html
But identifying model and year is not so easy. This is a link to my attempt at identification. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Mercier-build
Also a help in distinguishing between models 100, 200, 300, etc ... have a look at this blog and scroll down to one of the comments. (I'll quote here..) https://retrobikerestorations.blogspo...6/mercier.html
I have one too, and I think it's a 200 but it could also be a 100 - I'm not sure. I know it's not a 300 Reynolds. Here is a list of equipment for each model I found online - I believe they were imported 1969-1972? -Chris
"I have a Mercier catalog from Beacon Cycle and Supply Co. (early to mid '70s) which lists the following spec's for each of their models:
Model 300:
Reynolds 531 double butted frame, front and rear forks.
Chromium plated front fork ends.
Simplex Criterieum front and rear gear changers.
Simplex frame mount shift controls.
Normandy Competition Dural QR large flange hubs
Stronglight headset.
Stronglight professional crank set and chainwheel 46 x 52 (picture looks like a Stronglight 93).
Simplex cable clips.
Dural pedals with reflectors.
Chrome seat post.
MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Atom 66 competition freewheel 14 x 24.
Sedis chain.
Mavic Monthlery alloy rims.
Chromed straight gauge spokes.
Hutchinson tubular sew-up racing tires.
Ideale 2000 molded saddle.
Dural handlebar.
Dural AMC handlebar stem.
Tornade Dural ringed pump with AFA express connector.
Brazed-on pump clips.
Toe clips and straps.
Approximate Weight: 22 lbs.
Colors: Orange, Red, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, Kelly Green, and Purple
Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25"
Model 200:
Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks.
Chromium plated front fork ends.
Simplex Prestige front and rear gear changers and frame mount shift controls.
Normandy Dural QR large flange hubs
Precision fork ends.
3 pin steel chainwheel 46 x 52.
Brazed-on cable clips.
Steel rattrap pedals with reflectors.
MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Normandy freewheel 14 x 24.
Sedis chain.
Mavic Sport alloy rims.
Butted rustless spokes.
Hutchinson sew-up tubular racing tires.
Molded vinyl covered saddle.
Dural handlebar stem.
Dural handlebar.
Tornade Dural ringed pump with AFA express connector.
Brazed-on pump clips.
Toe clips and straps.
Cloth handlebar tape.
Special hand striping.
Approximate Weight: 25 lbs.
Colors: Orange, Red, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, Kelly Green, and Purple
Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25"
Model 100 (and 111 Mixte):
Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks.
Chromium plated front fork ends.
Simplex front and rear gear changers.
Simplex frame mounted shift controls.
Normandy Dural QR large flange hubs
3 pin steel chainwheel 40 x 52.
Brazed-on cable clips.
Rattrap steel pedals with reflectors.
MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Normandy freewheel 14 x 28.
Sedis chain.
Rigida steel rims, serrated edges.
Butted rustless spokes.
Hutchinson high pressure gumwall tires.
Molded vinyl saddle.
Steel handlebar.
Dural handlebar stem.
Tornade Dural ringed pump.
Brazed-on pump clips.
Black handlebar tape.
Special hand striping.
Approximate Weight: 25 lbs.
Colors: Orange, Red, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, Kelly Green, and Purple.
Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25" (20" and 22" for mixte)
Model 90 (and 91 Mixte):
Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks.
Simplex front and rear gear changers.
Simplex frame mount shift controls.
Normandy large flange hubs with wingnuts.
3 pin steel chainwheel 40 x 52.
Rattrap steel pedals with reflectors.
LAM brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Normandy freewheel 14 x 28.
Sedis chain.
Rigida steel rims, serrated edges.
Butted rustless spokes.
Hutchinson high pressure gumwall tires.
Molded vinyl saddle.
Steel handlebar.
Dural handlebar stem.
Black handlebar tape.
Approximate Weight: 25 lbs.
Colors: Blue and Yellow
Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25" (20" and 22" for mixte)
Model 140 (and 141 Mixte -- both of these are children's 18" frame racers):
Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks.
Chromium plated front fork ends.
Simplex Prestige front and rear gear changers.
Simplex frame mounted shift controls.
Normandy Dural QR large flange hubs
3 pin steel chainwheel 36 x 42.
Brazed-on cable clips.
Rattrap steel pedals with reflectors.
MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Normandy freewheel 14 x 24.
Sedis chain.
Rigida steel rims, serrated edges.
Butted rustless spokes.
Hutchinson high pressure gumwall tires.
Molded vinyl saddle.
Steel handlebar.
Dural handlebar stem.
Tornade Dural ringed pump.
Brazed-on pump clips.
Black handlebar tape.
Special hand striping.
Approximate Weight: 25 lbs.
Colors: Red, Lime Green, and Sky Blue
Frame Sizes: 18" for both boys and mixte.
Hope this helps -- Merry Christmas!
"I have a Mercier catalog from Beacon Cycle and Supply Co. (early to mid '70s) which lists the following spec's for each of their models:
Model 300:
Reynolds 531 double butted frame, front and rear forks.
Chromium plated front fork ends.
Simplex Criterieum front and rear gear changers.
Simplex frame mount shift controls.
Normandy Competition Dural QR large flange hubs
Stronglight headset.
Stronglight professional crank set and chainwheel 46 x 52 (picture looks like a Stronglight 93).
Simplex cable clips.
Dural pedals with reflectors.
Chrome seat post.
MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Atom 66 competition freewheel 14 x 24.
Sedis chain.
Mavic Monthlery alloy rims.
Chromed straight gauge spokes.
Hutchinson tubular sew-up racing tires.
Ideale 2000 molded saddle.
Dural handlebar.
Dural AMC handlebar stem.
Tornade Dural ringed pump with AFA express connector.
Brazed-on pump clips.
Toe clips and straps.
Approximate Weight: 22 lbs.
Colors: Orange, Red, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, Kelly Green, and Purple
Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25"
Model 200:
Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks.
Chromium plated front fork ends.
Simplex Prestige front and rear gear changers and frame mount shift controls.
Normandy Dural QR large flange hubs
Precision fork ends.
3 pin steel chainwheel 46 x 52.
Brazed-on cable clips.
Steel rattrap pedals with reflectors.
MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Normandy freewheel 14 x 24.
Sedis chain.
Mavic Sport alloy rims.
Butted rustless spokes.
Hutchinson sew-up tubular racing tires.
Molded vinyl covered saddle.
Dural handlebar stem.
Dural handlebar.
Tornade Dural ringed pump with AFA express connector.
Brazed-on pump clips.
Toe clips and straps.
Cloth handlebar tape.
Special hand striping.
Approximate Weight: 25 lbs.
Colors: Orange, Red, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, Kelly Green, and Purple
Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25"
Model 100 (and 111 Mixte):
Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks.
Chromium plated front fork ends.
Simplex front and rear gear changers.
Simplex frame mounted shift controls.
Normandy Dural QR large flange hubs
3 pin steel chainwheel 40 x 52.
Brazed-on cable clips.
Rattrap steel pedals with reflectors.
MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Normandy freewheel 14 x 28.
Sedis chain.
Rigida steel rims, serrated edges.
Butted rustless spokes.
Hutchinson high pressure gumwall tires.
Molded vinyl saddle.
Steel handlebar.
Dural handlebar stem.
Tornade Dural ringed pump.
Brazed-on pump clips.
Black handlebar tape.
Special hand striping.
Approximate Weight: 25 lbs.
Colors: Orange, Red, Sky Blue, White, Yellow, Kelly Green, and Purple.
Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25" (20" and 22" for mixte)
Model 90 (and 91 Mixte):
Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks.
Simplex front and rear gear changers.
Simplex frame mount shift controls.
Normandy large flange hubs with wingnuts.
3 pin steel chainwheel 40 x 52.
Rattrap steel pedals with reflectors.
LAM brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Normandy freewheel 14 x 28.
Sedis chain.
Rigida steel rims, serrated edges.
Butted rustless spokes.
Hutchinson high pressure gumwall tires.
Molded vinyl saddle.
Steel handlebar.
Dural handlebar stem.
Black handlebar tape.
Approximate Weight: 25 lbs.
Colors: Blue and Yellow
Frame Sizes: 19 1/2", 21", 23", 25" (20" and 22" for mixte)
Model 140 (and 141 Mixte -- both of these are children's 18" frame racers):
Luxtub tubing - frame, front and rear forks.
Chromium plated front fork ends.
Simplex Prestige front and rear gear changers.
Simplex frame mounted shift controls.
Normandy Dural QR large flange hubs
3 pin steel chainwheel 36 x 42.
Brazed-on cable clips.
Rattrap steel pedals with reflectors.
MAFAC brakes with hooded levers and adjusters.
Normandy freewheel 14 x 24.
Sedis chain.
Rigida steel rims, serrated edges.
Butted rustless spokes.
Hutchinson high pressure gumwall tires.
Molded vinyl saddle.
Steel handlebar.
Dural handlebar stem.
Tornade Dural ringed pump.
Brazed-on pump clips.
Black handlebar tape.
Special hand striping.
Approximate Weight: 25 lbs.
Colors: Red, Lime Green, and Sky Blue
Frame Sizes: 18" for both boys and mixte.
Hope this helps -- Merry Christmas!
05-27-13, 12:20 PM
#3
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Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
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Thanks, gerv. That is exactly the sort of thing that I have been trying to find. Love that green Mercier, by the way.
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
05-27-13, 08:34 PM
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wow Randy that is quite a Mercier collection you have there!
thank you for posting them, most interesting.
the first bike certainly looks like a model 100. what is that saddle, an ADGA 28A? pretty much all the model 100's i have seen or worked from the boom era came stock with a "Gran Prix" bare plastic saddle.
the pink machine is in the team colour of the GAN Mercier pro team.
one odd feature of the 100 and 200 series models of the boom era is the simplex prestige shift levers. one side is brazed on and the other is clamp-on. in this arrangement the braze-on acts as a no-slide pib for the clamp-on.(!)
looking forward to following this thread!
thank you for posting them, most interesting.
the first bike certainly looks like a model 100. what is that saddle, an ADGA 28A? pretty much all the model 100's i have seen or worked from the boom era came stock with a "Gran Prix" bare plastic saddle.
the pink machine is in the team colour of the GAN Mercier pro team.
one odd feature of the 100 and 200 series models of the boom era is the simplex prestige shift levers. one side is brazed on and the other is clamp-on. in this arrangement the braze-on acts as a no-slide pib for the clamp-on.(!)
looking forward to following this thread!
05-27-13, 09:26 PM
#5
In the right lane
Randy the pink #3 is interesting. For some reason Mercier had this exact color on a lot of their bikes. I've seen it on the lower models. But it was also on some of their TDF Model 300s.
Here's a French blog about Raymond Poulidor and
https://velosvintage.over-blog.com/ar...-51968310.html
Here's a French blog about Raymond Poulidor and
https://velosvintage.over-blog.com/ar...-51968310.html
French cycling, Mercier replica bike Raymond POULIDOR.
*In 1972, with the arrival of the National Insurance Group (GAN) is a revolution in the field. Indeed, the purple jersey Mercier disappears after fifty years of presence. The new partner requires its colors on the jersey. Thus was born the Gan-Mercier-Hutchinson group, led by Louis Caput and riders wear turquoise navy blue jersey, white, blue. The presence of this group in platoons last five years until 1976.
Raymond POULIDOR (Eng.), born April 15, 1936 at Masbaraud-Mérignat (Creuse). Climber and roller. Professional from 1960 to 1977.
It has been for almost twenty years one of the most popular and beloved characters, in France and abroad. His character, his simplicity, his composure that he is victorious or defeated earned him admiration and his unusual nickname "Poupou" was shouted by the public as a passionate invocation. Turned pro at 24, after 28 months of military service in North Africa, he has managed his career remarkably since it has managed to maintain a bright level up to 41 years in which he retired.
Despite the designation of "eternal second" that has been assigned, it can boast of a prestigious list which stand in Milan-San Remo 61, the Flèche Wallonne 63 Vuelta 64, the Criterium du Dauphine 66 63 Paris-Nice, the Grand Prix of Nations 63, the Grand Prix of Lugano and 63 other successes that confirm his abilities full riders. Hard in the ribs, excellent in the race against the clock and bo sprinter, it n 'is certainly no shortage of temperament.
But his long career has never offered him the joy of victory in the Tour de France that he loves more than anything and he was a brilliant protagonist. He failed, even for a single day, to wear the yellow jersey in 14 participations in the Tour that saw him finish third at 62, 8th in 63, 2nd in 64 and 65, 3rd at 66, 9th in 67, 69 in the third (after a drop in 68), 7th in 70, 72 in the third, 74 in the second (after a drop in 73), 19th in 75, third at 76. He has participated 15 times in the World Championship, finishing second at 74, third at 61, 64 and 66, 60 and 63 in the fifth.
R.Poulidor performing any feats of his career at age 38, winning the sixth stage of the Tour de France Seo de Urgel - Saint Lary. Starting eight kilometers from the finish, he distanced Eddy Merckx, wearing the yellow jersey, and triumphed at the top of the dish to Adet, preceding the Spanish José Lopez-Carril forty-one seconds. There were seven years Raymond Poulidor n had not won a stage in the TDF. It was also his last success in this event.
Bike restored:
Frame and fork Reynolds 531 tubing. Campagnolo Record equipment (brakes, derailleurs, headset, bottom bracket, pedals, saddle and wheel boss kits). Cinelli handlebars and caps, plastic handlebar tape. Saddle Cinelli "Unicanitor". Tubular wheels, rims Super Champion. Maillard freewheel 6 speed. Sedis chain. Toe clips and straps Christophe. Bottle holder TA TA Evian water bottle TDF.
Bike weight: 9.750 kg.
*In 1972, with the arrival of the National Insurance Group (GAN) is a revolution in the field. Indeed, the purple jersey Mercier disappears after fifty years of presence. The new partner requires its colors on the jersey. Thus was born the Gan-Mercier-Hutchinson group, led by Louis Caput and riders wear turquoise navy blue jersey, white, blue. The presence of this group in platoons last five years until 1976.
Raymond POULIDOR (Eng.), born April 15, 1936 at Masbaraud-Mérignat (Creuse). Climber and roller. Professional from 1960 to 1977.
It has been for almost twenty years one of the most popular and beloved characters, in France and abroad. His character, his simplicity, his composure that he is victorious or defeated earned him admiration and his unusual nickname "Poupou" was shouted by the public as a passionate invocation. Turned pro at 24, after 28 months of military service in North Africa, he has managed his career remarkably since it has managed to maintain a bright level up to 41 years in which he retired.
Despite the designation of "eternal second" that has been assigned, it can boast of a prestigious list which stand in Milan-San Remo 61, the Flèche Wallonne 63 Vuelta 64, the Criterium du Dauphine 66 63 Paris-Nice, the Grand Prix of Nations 63, the Grand Prix of Lugano and 63 other successes that confirm his abilities full riders. Hard in the ribs, excellent in the race against the clock and bo sprinter, it n 'is certainly no shortage of temperament.
But his long career has never offered him the joy of victory in the Tour de France that he loves more than anything and he was a brilliant protagonist. He failed, even for a single day, to wear the yellow jersey in 14 participations in the Tour that saw him finish third at 62, 8th in 63, 2nd in 64 and 65, 3rd at 66, 9th in 67, 69 in the third (after a drop in 68), 7th in 70, 72 in the third, 74 in the second (after a drop in 73), 19th in 75, third at 76. He has participated 15 times in the World Championship, finishing second at 74, third at 61, 64 and 66, 60 and 63 in the fifth.
R.Poulidor performing any feats of his career at age 38, winning the sixth stage of the Tour de France Seo de Urgel - Saint Lary. Starting eight kilometers from the finish, he distanced Eddy Merckx, wearing the yellow jersey, and triumphed at the top of the dish to Adet, preceding the Spanish José Lopez-Carril forty-one seconds. There were seven years Raymond Poulidor n had not won a stage in the TDF. It was also his last success in this event.
Bike restored:
Frame and fork Reynolds 531 tubing. Campagnolo Record equipment (brakes, derailleurs, headset, bottom bracket, pedals, saddle and wheel boss kits). Cinelli handlebars and caps, plastic handlebar tape. Saddle Cinelli "Unicanitor". Tubular wheels, rims Super Champion. Maillard freewheel 6 speed. Sedis chain. Toe clips and straps Christophe. Bottle holder TA TA Evian water bottle TDF.
Bike weight: 9.750 kg.
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