Get in touch

We’re always looking for new content submissions, please get in touch via our contact page here.

Mercian welded frame - 1949

Posted: Wednesday 19th August 2020

Owned By: Peter Underwood

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.

FrameMercian 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
Wheels27" Weinmann rims on Bayliss Wiley SF hubs 15/17 DB spokes
ChainsetChater Lea steel 6½” chainset with round cranks and 46 x 3/32 chainring
PedalsLyotard with Christophe toeclips and straps
GearsSimplex Tour de France 4-speed with Simplex braze-on lever with wing nut adjuster - 4-speed block 15-24 teeth
BrakesGB Coureur front and rear brake with early Superhood levers - white cables
Stem/BarsGB alloy spearpoint stem - 3½" with GB Maes Alloy bars 38cm
SaddleBrooks B15 Swallow
Extra detailsModel 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

Owned By: Peter Underwood

Rate this page

How would you rate the quality of this article?

Average Rating: 0 / 5. Ratings: 0

Be the first to rate this post.

This article appears in the following categories.

This article has been tagged with the following.

Upcoming Events

Whether you are looking for a gentle social meet up, or a 100-mile ride browse the community’s upcoming events and plan your next weekend outing.

Join our community

Get the latest news and updates from us directly when you sign up to our newsletter.