'80s Mercier question(s)
11-20-08, 09:33 PM
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'80s Mercier question(s)
Hey everyone,
This came up on the local Craigslist and I couldn't resist, even though it's been stripped of everything except the seatpost bolt and bottom bracket. I believe it is a Mercier, and you can almost read the name on the down tube. It has Super Vitus 980 tubing, pantographed fork crown, nice lugs, weighs next to nothing, has Vitus stamped dropouts, and has what I believe to be the Mercier crown and "M" on the seat stay tips. Beyond that, I'm not very sure of anything else except that I'll be tracking down a french headset, seatpost and stem. I can't find a serial number anywhere and it doesn't appear to be a repaint. The previous owner knew next to nothing about what it had originally (He had it set up as a single-speed for a while). I've got a nice set of Wolber Super Champion tubulars to go on it, but I'd be curious to know what the original gruppo was on the bike before I start gathering parts. Anyone ever have one of these?
Here are some photo links (not sure how to post pics directly):
https://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...Mercier001.jpg
https://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...Mercier002.jpg
https://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...Mercier003.jpg
Thanks in advance for your help!!
Paul
This came up on the local Craigslist and I couldn't resist, even though it's been stripped of everything except the seatpost bolt and bottom bracket. I believe it is a Mercier, and you can almost read the name on the down tube. It has Super Vitus 980 tubing, pantographed fork crown, nice lugs, weighs next to nothing, has Vitus stamped dropouts, and has what I believe to be the Mercier crown and "M" on the seat stay tips. Beyond that, I'm not very sure of anything else except that I'll be tracking down a french headset, seatpost and stem. I can't find a serial number anywhere and it doesn't appear to be a repaint. The previous owner knew next to nothing about what it had originally (He had it set up as a single-speed for a while). I've got a nice set of Wolber Super Champion tubulars to go on it, but I'd be curious to know what the original gruppo was on the bike before I start gathering parts. Anyone ever have one of these?
Here are some photo links (not sure how to post pics directly):
https://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...Mercier001.jpg
https://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...Mercier002.jpg
https://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...Mercier003.jpg
Thanks in advance for your help!!
Paul
11-20-08, 10:05 PM
#2
aka: Mike J.
Compare the lugs on your bike to this Audax bike on ebay while the auction is still active. The lugs look very similar to me, but maybe that just means the lugs came from the same place.
https://cgi.ebay.com/PAT-HANLON-LIGHT...1%7C240%3A1318
https://cgi.ebay.com/PAT-HANLON-LIGHT...1%7C240%3A1318
11-20-08, 10:30 PM
#3
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I've got to hand it to you, you've got a great eye for lugs!! They are almost exactly the same, same shaped cutouts and points. The only difference I can really see is that my head tube lugs have cutouts on the side. The slots on the front of the fork crown are even the same, though the crown on my suspected Mercier is integrated (smooth) into the fork tubes instead of being a separate crown. Very interesting, an evolution of the same lugs.
So, looking at my '87 Cilo now, it looks as though it has the same lugs as well. I'm guessing these were "the" lugs in Europe, aside from Italy, back in the day. Maybe Prugnat or Bocama?
That's a sweet frame, by the way. If the headset and bb aren't shot, it's a pretty good deal, too.
Cheers,
Paul
So, looking at my '87 Cilo now, it looks as though it has the same lugs as well. I'm guessing these were "the" lugs in Europe, aside from Italy, back in the day. Maybe Prugnat or Bocama?
That's a sweet frame, by the way. If the headset and bb aren't shot, it's a pretty good deal, too.
Cheers,
Paul
Last edited by Night Tiger; 11-20-08 at 10:34 PM.
11-21-08, 02:07 AM
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the lugs on the Mercier are Bocama Competition type 83, don't know about the Pat Hanlon, The forkcrown on the Mercier has a Zeus logo engraved, I haven't seen one with that script "M" and crown: if you say that's a Mercier mark then I'll take it as fact. (pic of Bocama lugs from Richard Sachs)
11-21-08, 02:21 PM
#5
Disraeli Gears
Just picking nits here, but: Why do you say that they're Bocama, when Prugnat made lugs just like those on both bikes? -- at least to my eye. I can't really see any differences between the ones on the supposed Mercier and the PH on eBay, and those on my Raleigh frame, which the sales brochure said were Prugnat. Windowed on top and sides for the head lugs, very similar if not identical. And the Bocama lugs you illustrated from RS appear to be longer than any of the others mentioned.
11-21-08, 03:36 PM
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Well, as far as I can find on the net, this frame is very similar to the Peugeot PX10s of the '80s that were built with Super Vitus 980. I'm guessing that they might have come with a similar gruppo. Anybody have one of those in their stable?
Is that a Zeus "Z" panto on the fork crowns, then? I was wondering why it looked more like a "Z". Good to know.
Anybody know if the "M" and the crown on the seat stay tips are Mercier stylings?
Is that a Zeus "Z" panto on the fork crowns, then? I was wondering why it looked more like a "Z". Good to know.
Anybody know if the "M" and the crown on the seat stay tips are Mercier stylings?
11-22-08, 01:20 AM
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as to the Bocama vs Prugnat: they look more like BCM to me and that would be more common for a French frame. The only Prugnats that I'm familiar with that are close are the type "S" and they are not factory-pierced with the windows, neither top nor sides, and the BCMs are...other than that: anything's possible...windows can be added, points shortened, rounded, sharpened...I could be wrong, it's happened 
Here's a little thing that shows the Zeus "Z" logo, it's from later years: late '70s-'80s approx.
Here's a little thing that shows the Zeus "Z" logo, it's from later years: late '70s-'80s approx.
11-22-08, 02:47 PM
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Disraeli Gears
So, what would you say these are?
11-22-08, 05:06 PM
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Haden...cause it says it's a Raleigh.
What do you call them?
But back to the OP: I haven't seen anything else that has the "M" and crown on the seatstay caps: can you post a close-up of the decal on the downtube? Are they Simplex dropouts?
What do you call them?
But back to the OP: I haven't seen anything else that has the "M" and crown on the seatstay caps: can you post a close-up of the decal on the downtube? Are they Simplex dropouts?
Last edited by unworthy1; 11-22-08 at 05:30 PM.
11-23-08, 01:17 AM
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I'll post a close-up of the downtube decal tomorrow (it's way too late now) as well as the dropouts. One thing I can say is that the drive side dropout is stamped "Vitus" above the derailleur hanger. Not sure if they are Simplex. Pics to come on the 'morrow. Thanks to all who have replied!! I'm even more intrigued by this frame!
Cheers!
Cheers!
11-23-08, 04:47 PM
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Here is a close up of the drive side dropout and the Vitus stamp in the hanger.
https://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...otos/Conti.jpg
I spoke with a friend who lives in France and he has a Gitane of the same vintage (and Super Vitus 980 tubing) that sports a full decorative Shimano 600 gruppo with French (opposite side cable input) calipers.
https://i378.photobucket.com/albums/o...otos/Conti.jpg
I spoke with a friend who lives in France and he has a Gitane of the same vintage (and Super Vitus 980 tubing) that sports a full decorative Shimano 600 gruppo with French (opposite side cable input) calipers.
11-23-08, 05:36 PM
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that DO sure bears a family resemblance to this Simplex unit, but at least yours looks like it's threaded and has a tang so you can mount standard RDs. I wonder if Vitus made them for Simplex or vice-versa.
11-25-08, 11:41 PM
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It is quite similar, but, as you noted, it is threaded and has the tang for the derailleur.
I ran a search on Mercier in the Classic & Vintage and there is a fellow who posted some pics of a blue one which looks to be the same frame as mine - you can see that the bottom bracket cup has the same design and also sports the Vitus dropouts. I've written him to see if his also has the "M" and the "Z" in the same places.
Thanks again to everyone for all their help!
I ran a search on Mercier in the Classic & Vintage and there is a fellow who posted some pics of a blue one which looks to be the same frame as mine - you can see that the bottom bracket cup has the same design and also sports the Vitus dropouts. I've written him to see if his also has the "M" and the "Z" in the same places.
Thanks again to everyone for all their help!
05-05-09, 11:44 PM
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80's Mercier
Hi,
I know that this thread is old now, but I saw your bike and realized that it is very similar to a Mercier that I own.
Have you managed to find out any more information about your frame?
I can tell you that it is a Mercier, but it may not have its original forks. My frame, which is otherwise identical to yours, has full chrome forks with a sloping crown. The crown is stamped "mercier" with a crown above. It should have a Mercier decal on the down tube in scripted characters.
My frame has Vitus ends and the same lugs. It is made from Columbus tubing and the bike is totally fitted with Campagnolo parts, including the headset. It has the same stamping at the top of the rear stays.
I am not sure when my frame was built and I was hoping that maybe you have found out the date of yours.
Anyway, you have probably move on from this thread by now, so I am sorry to arrive so late.
All the best,
peterjr
I know that this thread is old now, but I saw your bike and realized that it is very similar to a Mercier that I own.
Have you managed to find out any more information about your frame?
I can tell you that it is a Mercier, but it may not have its original forks. My frame, which is otherwise identical to yours, has full chrome forks with a sloping crown. The crown is stamped "mercier" with a crown above. It should have a Mercier decal on the down tube in scripted characters.
My frame has Vitus ends and the same lugs. It is made from Columbus tubing and the bike is totally fitted with Campagnolo parts, including the headset. It has the same stamping at the top of the rear stays.
I am not sure when my frame was built and I was hoping that maybe you have found out the date of yours.
Anyway, you have probably move on from this thread by now, so I am sorry to arrive so late.
All the best,
peterjr
