Mercian 1978 Catalog — Handbuilt Frames for the Discerning Cyclist, with the Retail Frame Price List of July 1978

Mercian’s catalog of handbuilt frames with its Retail Frame Price List of July 1978. The catalog prints no date; the price list prices its nine models, and both print the same showroom telephone.

— Page 1 (front cover) —
MERCIAN
CYCLES LTD.
Showrooms: 28 STENSON ROAD, CAVENDISH, DERBY, DE3 7JB. TEL. 25851
Office & Works: PONTEFRACT STREET, ASCOT DRIVE, DERBY, DE2 8JD. TEL. 46786.
Specialists in Handbuilt
Racing Frames where
Craftsmanship and
Quality Count

[The front cover of the Mercian Cycles catalog: the firm’s name with its showroom and works addresses on a yellow band, framed by eight photographs of road racing printed in red, blue and green. A vertical crease runs down the middle of the sheet, a diagonal crease crosses the lower right corner and a brown stain marks the right edge.]

— Page 2 —
MERCIAN
Vincitore
A very special model for the connoisseur who wants highly intricate lug work. This model is equally suitable for racing or touring use, and is extremely popular with our American customers. This model has the Italian semi-sloping forged fork crown, or either the Cinelli full sloping fork crown to choice included in the model price. Also available in track version to order.

Road Model Specification
Reynolds ‘531’ Double Butted Tubing.
Size to order.
73° head – 73° seat tube angles
10⅝” bottom bracket height.
1⅝” fork rake.
16¾” chainstays
⅝” wrapover seatstays.
Close clearance for sprint wheels only. (No M/G eyes).
Campag or Shimano ends as available.
Brazed on fittings for 10 speed gears with a ‘pip’ on down tube for gear levers.
TDC ‘Italia’ head set and alloy seat pillar.
OR TO YOUR OWN SPECIFICATION

Finish
Any colour of your choice with contrasting head and seat tube bands, lugs lined and Mercian transfers. Chrome plating to order.
Additional bands extra.

[Mercian’s Vincitore frame and fork, photographed, with its description, road model specification and finish. The frame is dark blue with intricate lined lugs, white head and seat tube panels, colored bands and MERCIAN transfers on the top and down tubes; the fork stands beside it.]

— Page 3 —
Handbuilt Frames
for the Discerning Cyclist.

Introducing the Mercian range of craftsman built frames, which are the result of over 30 years experience of cycle making to the exacting requirements of cycling enthusiasts throughout the world.

The name Mercian is derived from the ancient Kingdom of Mercia—the capital of which in bygone days was Repton, a village situated a few miles south of Derby, and today famous for its public school. Naturally the people of Mercia were called Mercians.

All Mercian frames are hand made and stove-enamelled in our own workshops. No effort is spared in the building of Mercian frames to make them the best available. Frames are built individually to customers specifications and great care is given to detail, so that a high class of workmanship is maintained. To uphold this high standard, our production is limited, and unfortunately during the season, delivery is rather long.

Mercian are known for their top class finishes and every effort is made to match the colours you require. If you require a particular shade of any colour, it is advisable to send a sample for matching purposes. The extensive range of colours that we do can be seen at our retail shop.

We also have big stocks of English, Continental and Japanese accessories, clothing and shoes, including all the latest super lightweight equipment. We offer a complete wheelbuilding service—all combinations of wheels for racing and touring expertly built.

Frames can be ordered from us by mail order, or by a personal visit to our retail shop, where you will benefit from our experience of many years dedication to the needs of the discerning cyclist.

ANY MODEL CAN BE BUILT
INTO A COMPLETE CYCLE—
TO YOUR SPECIFICATION
(Details and Price upon request)

[Mercian’s introduction, Handbuilt Frames for the Discerning Cyclist, a page of text on the firm’s hand built and stove enameled frames, its finishes, its retail shop and its wheelbuilding service. A boxed notice at the foot offers any model built into a complete cycle.]

— Page 4 —
Professional
Introduced to the cycling public in 1968 after a year of professional successes, this model has gained an international reputation for its superb rigidity. The special feature of the Professional model is the reinforced bottom bracket shell, which has 3″ spearpoints along the tubes and chainstays. These are steel welded onto the bottom bracket shell before the frame is built, which gives a very rigid frame. The frame is built with special hand filed Prugnat Italian lugs and a Cinelli crown is included. Also available in track version to order.

Road Model Specification
Reynolds 531 Double Butted Tubing.
Size to order
73° head – 73° seat tube angles
10⅝” bottom bracket height.
1⅝” fork rake.
16¾” chainstays.
⅝” wrapover seat stays.
Close clearance for sprint wheels only. (No M/G eyes).
Campag or Shimano ends as available.
Brazed on fittings for 10 speed gears with a ‘pip’ on down tube for gear lever.
TDC ‘Italia’ head set and alloy seat pillar.
OR TO YOUR OWN SPECIFICATION

Finish
Any colour of your choice with contrasting head and seat tube bands, lugs lined and Mercian transfers. Chrome plating to order.
Additional bands extra.

[Mercian’s Professional frame and fork, photographed, with its description, road model specification and finish. The frame is dark green with white head and seat tube panels, dark bands on the seat tube and a MERCIAN transfer on the down tube; the fork stands beside it.]

— Page 5 —
Superlight
A time triallist’s dream with every unnecessary ounce cut away to provide the most responsive time trial frame available today. The frame is made with hand cut lugs of Mercian design and the seat stays are butted onto the rear of the seat tube. An allen key seat lug fitting is included in this model. Also available in track version to order. The weight of the frame and fork with head set is 6lb – 6¼ lb, according to size.

Road Model Specification
Reynolds 531 Double Butted Tubing.
(Lighter tubing available at extra cost).
Size to order
74° head – 74° seat tube angles.
10⅝” bottom bracket height.
1⅝” fork rake.
16½” chainstays.
Close clearance for sprint wheels only (No M/G eyes).
Campag or Shimano ends as availabe.
Brazed on fittings for 10 speed gears with a ‘pip’ on down tube for gear lever.
TDC ‘Italia’ head set and alloy seat pillar.
OR TO YOUR OWN SPECIFICATION

Finish
Any colour of your choice with contrasting head and seat tube bands, lugs lined and Mercian transfers. Chrome plating to order.
Additional bands extra.

[Mercian’s Superlight time trial frame and fork, photographed, with its description, road model specification and finish. The frame is dark red with a white head tube panel, white bands on the seat tube, brazed on fittings along the top tube and a MERCIAN transfer on the down tube; the fork stands beside it.]

— Page 6 —
Strada Speciale

A specially introduced road frame for the discerning rider who likes a frame to be lightened by drilling the lugs – but at the same time prefers some individuality that other frames lack. All the lugs, fork crown and underneath the bottom bracket shell are hand cut with a stylish clover leaf design – yet still retaining strength and rigidity. The model incorporates the popular superlight style seat stays butted onto the rear of the seat tube and also a semi-sloping fork crown. The weight of the frame and fork including head set is 6lb – 6¼lb, according to size.

Specification
Reynolds 531 double butted tubing.
(Lighter tubing available at extra cost).
Size to order.
74° x 74° angles.
10⅝” bottom bracket height.
1¼” fork rake.
16½” chain stays.
Close clearance for sprint wheels only (no mudguard eyes).
Campag Super Record road ends.
Brazed on fittings for 10 speed gears with a ‘pip’ on down tube for gear levers.
TDC ‘Italia’ head set and alloy seat pillar.
OR TO YOUR OWN SPECIFICATION.

Finish
Any colour of your choice with contrasting head and seat tube bands, lugs lined and Mercian transfers. Chrome plating to order.
Additional bands extra.

[Mercian’s Strada Speciale road frame and fork, photographed, with its description and specification. The frame is dark red with pale blue head and seat tube bands and a Mercian down tube transfer; the vertical MERCIAN lettering runs down the left margin and blue, yellow and red stripes down the right.]

— Page 7 —
Distinctive Mercian features no other Frames can match.

Hand cut Vincitore lugs and Italian semi-sloping crown.
Hand cut Superlight lugs.
Nervex lugs and Hand cut King of Mercia crown.
Heart-shaped cutouts—extra on King of Mercia model.
Professional Bottom Bracket shell.
Superlight style seat stays and allen key bolt seat lug.

[Six photographs of Mercian frame details: Vincitore and Superlight lugs, the King of Mercia crown, heart-shaped cutouts, the Professional bottom bracket shell and superlight style seat stays. Each is captioned below, and the frames shown are blue, maroon, orange, yellow and green.]

— Page 8 —
King of Mercia

The popular road frame that has been perfected over past decades by international cyclists. Built with either Prugnat Italian lugs or Nervex Professional lugs to choice, the frame has a hand cut feature fork crown. The Italian semi-sloping crown, or Cinelli full sloping crown, is available as an optional extra, as is the allen key seat lug fitting, and superlight style seat stays butted onto the rear of the seat tube. Prugnat long point lugs with heart cutouts can be had on this model at an extra charge.

Specification
Reynolds ‘531’ Double Butted Tubing
(Lighter Tubing available at extra cost).
Size to order.
73° head – 73° seat tube angles.
10⅝” bottom bracket height.
1⅝” fork rake.
16¾” chainstays.
⅝” wrapover seat stays.
Close clearance for sprint wheels only. (No M/G eyes).
Campag or Shimano ends as available.
Brazed on fittings for 10 speed gears with a ‘pip’ on down tube for gear levers.
TDC ‘Italia’ head set and alloy seat pillar.
OR TO YOUR OWN SPECIFICATION

Finish
Any colour of your choice with contrasting head and seat tube bands, lugs lined and Mercian transfers. Chrome plating to order.
Additional bands extra.

[Mercian’s King of Mercia road frame and fork, photographed, with its description and specification. The frame is dark blue with a seat tube banded in red and white, a white head tube panel and Mercian transfers on the top and down tubes.]

— Page 9 —
Super Vigorelli

Designed for pure track racing, the Super Vigorelli is built to individual requirements, or to our recommended specification. The frame is built with Prugnat plain lugs and has a strong Milremo 2 plate round fork crown. The ⅝” seat stays have a full wrapover, and Campag track ends are used. The fork is drilled for a brake for occasional use on the road, but this can be ommitted and an even closer wheel clearance can be had upon request.

Specification
Reynolds ‘531’ Double Butted Tubing.
Size to order.
74° head – 74° seat angles.
10⅞” bottom bracket height.
1¼” fork rake.
⅝” wrapover seat stays.
16″ chain stays.
Campag track ends (built for Campag track hubs).
Close clearance for sprints only (No M/G eyes).
Drilled for front brake.
TDC ‘Italia’ head set and alloy seat pillar.
OR TO YOUR OWN SPECIFICATION

Finish
Any colour of your choice with contrasting head and seat tube bands Lugs lined and Mercian transfers. Chrome plating to order.
Additional bands extra.

[Mercian’s Super Vigorelli track frame and fork, photographed, with its description and specification. The frame is gold with black bands on the seat tube, a black head tube panel and a Mercian down tube transfer; a faint pink stain marks the right margin beside the stripes.]

— Page 10 —
Miss Mercian

Our Ladies model can be built to your own personal requirements, or our standard specification. Built with fancy cut lugs, the frame has a hand cut fork crown.

Specification
Reynolds 531 double butted tubing.
Size to order.
72° x 72° angles.
10⅝” bottom bracket height.
2⅛” fork rake.
17¼” chainstays.
Clearance for H.P. wheels and mudguards.
Campag or Shimano ends as available.
Brazed on stops for brakes and 10 speed gears with a ‘pip’ on down tube for gear levers.
TDC ‘Italia’ head set and alloy seat pillar.
OR TO YOUR OWN SPECIFICATION

Finish
Any colour of your choice with contrasting head and seat tube bands, [?] lugs lined and Mercian transfers. Chrome plating to order.
Additional bands extra.

[Mercian’s Miss Mercian ladies frame and fork, photographed, with its description and specification. The frame is bronze with red head and seat tube panels, lined lugs and a dropped top tube meeting the seat tube about halfway down; a faint pink stain marks the lower left margin.]

— Page 11 —
Olympic
An excellent all-rounder frame for general use and occasional racing. Built entirely from Reynolds 531 tubing and stays, the frame appeals to the rider who is not fussy about angles, and is content to leave these to our experience. In this way we are able to offer a model that appeals to the pocket of any cyclist.
Specification
Reynolds 531 Double Butted Tubing.
20″ to 25″ in half inch sizes.
72° head – 74° seat angles (20″ to 21½”)
73° head – 73° seat angles (22″ to 25″)
10⅝” bottom bracket height.
1⅞” fork rake.
⅝” semi-wrapover seat stays.
17″ chain-stays.
Campag or Shimano ends as available.
Brazed on fittings for 10 speed gears with a ‘pip’ on down tube for gear levers.
Close clearance for sprints and mudguards.
TDC ‘Italia’ head set and alloy seat pillar.
NO ALTERATIONS TO THE ABOVE SPECIFICATION CAN BE ACCEPTED.
Finish
Any colour to your choice with contrasting seat tube band, lugs lined, and Mercian transfers. Chrome plating to order.
Additional bands extra.

[Mercian’s Olympic frame and fork, photographed, with its description, specification and finish. The frame is red with a white head tube panel, a red and white spiral band on the seat tube and “MERCIAN” on a white down tube panel. The page carries no folio; a stain with an irregular edge discolors its lower right corner.]

— Page 12 (back cover) —
Campionissimo
A first class frame for the beginner, yet light enough to be used as a racing frame. The frame is handbuilt with the quality and precision of the dearer frames of the Mercian range, and is made throughout in Reynolds 531 double butted tubing. The fact that the model is built to our standard specification is the reason for its competitive price.
The Campionissimo is also available as a complete cycle – as illustrated – fitted with Shimano gears and hubs, and Weinmann alloy centre pull brakes and rims. See separate leaflet for full specification and prices.
Standard Specification
Reynolds 531 Double Butted Tubing.
20″ to 25″ in half inch sizes.
72° head – 74° seat angles (20″ to 21½”)
73° head – 73° seat angles (22″ to 25″)
2⅛” fork rake.
10⅝” bottom bracket height.
17¼” chainstays.
Plain dropouts.
Brazed on gear eyes for 10 speed with a ‘pip’ on down tube for gear levers.
Brazed on brake eyes and pump pegs.
Clearance for high pressures and mudguards.
TDC ‘Italia’ head set and alloy seat pillar.
NO ALTERATIONS TO THE FRAME SPECIFICATION CAN BE ACCEPTED.
Finish
Any colour of your choice in enamel or polychromatic finish, lugs lined, and Mercian transfers. Chrome plating to order.
Flamboyant finishes and bands extra as price list.
Printed and Designed by Fretwell & Brian Ltd., Howden Road, Silsden, Keighley, W. Yorks.

[Mercian’s Campionissimo, photographed as a complete bicycle with drop handlebars, derailleur gears, center pull brakes and a frame pump, with its description, standard specification and finish. The frame is a dark purple with “MERCIAN” on the top, seat and down tubes; the printer’s line runs up the right margin beside the color stripes. The page carries no folio; two staples show at its right edge and faint ghost text from another page shows through beside the text column.]

— Page 13 —
MERCIAN CYCLES LTD.
V.A.T. Registration No. 125 9445 59
Retail Sales and Service :
28 Stenson Road, Cavendish,
Derby DE3 7JB
Telephone (0332) 25851
Office and Works :
Pontefract Street, Ascot Drive,
Derby DE2 8JD, England
Telephone (0332) 46786
RETAIL FRAME
PRICE LIST
(EX. WORKS)
JULY 1978
V.A.T. EXTRA AT CURRENT RATE (U.K. SALES ONLY)
PROFESSIONAL ROAD | £110.00
Built to your own specification—or our specification as per Catalogue. Includes reinforced Bottom Bracket Shell with 3″ spearpoints, ⅝” wrapover seatstays and cinelli crown.
Any brazed on fittings for gears and brakes to your choice.
Finish—any colour of your choice with contrasting Head and Seat Tube Bands.
T.D.C. Head Set and Alloy Seat Pin fitted.
This model can also be supplied as a track Frame.
VINCITORE ROAD | £110.00
Built to your own specification with fancy hand cut lugs as illustrated in the catalogue.
New lighter Continental style fork blades are included in the price of this model.
Any brazed on fittings for gears and brakes to your choice.
Finish—any colour of your choice with contrasting Head and Seat Tube Bands.
T.D.C. Head Set and Alloy Seat Pin fitted.
This model can also be supplied as a track Frame.
SUPERLIGHT ROAD | £110.00
Built to your own specification or our specification as in the Catalogue.
Hand cut lugs of our own design.
The seat stays are fitted to the back of the seat tube and an Allen Key Seat Lug is fitted as standard.
New lighter Continental style fork blades are included in the price of this model.
Any brazed on fittings for gears and brakes to your choice.
Finish—any colour of your choice with contrasting Head and Seat Tube Bands.
T.D.C. Head Set and Alloy Seat Pin fitted.
This model can also be supplied as a track Frame to your specification
STRADA SPECIALE | £110.00 [cut off]

[The upper part of Mercian Cycles’ Retail Frame Price List of July 1978, typeset on pink paper: the letterhead with both Derby addresses, then the Professional Road, Vincitore Road and Superlight Road frames at £110.00 each. The last heading, Strada Speciale, is cut through by the bottom edge of the scan, and beside it a handwritten note in blue ink, also cut through, reads “£” and “+ VAT” with the rest lost. Two more lines of blue handwriting at the upper right corner are cut off by the right edge; only a first “B” and “1” can be made out.]

— Page 14 —
[Continues the STRADA SPECIALE entry, whose heading closes the previous page.]
A specially introduced model for the discerning rider — the Lugs, Crown and Bottom Bracket Shell are hand cut with a stylish clover leaf. Superlight Seat Stays are butted onto the rear of the Seat Tube, plus an Allen Key Seat Lug and Italian semi-sloping Fork Crown.
New lighter Continental style fork blades are included in the price of this model.
Any brazed on fittings for gears and brakes to choice.
Finish—any colour of your choice with contrasting Head and Seat Tube Bands.
T.D.C. Head Set and Alloy Seat Pin fitted.
KING OF MERCIA | £87.50
Our popular road Frame—either built to your own specifications or our specification.
Any brazed on fittings for gears and brakes to your choice.
The following features can be added to this model at an extra charge of £4.50 per item.
Italian semi-sloping crown; Cinelli full sloping crown; Allen key seat lug bolt fitting; Superlight style seat stays butted onto rear of seat tube.
New lighter Continental style fork blades (please note that a semi-sloping crown has to be used with these forks).
Finish— any colour of your choice with contrasting Head and Seat Tube Bands.
T.D.C. Head Set and Alloy Seat Pin fitted.
SUPER VIGORELLI | £87.50
Our popular track Frame—built either to your own specification—or our specification.
Finish—any colour of your choice with contrasting Head and Seat Tube Bands.
T.D.C. Head Set and Alloy Seat Pin fitted.
MISS MERCIAN | £87.50
Our Ladies Model is of the Continental twin lateral stays design, but can also be made in the English style, as illustrated in the catalogue.
Any brazed on fittings for gears and brakes to your choice.
Finish—any colour of your choice with contrasting Head and Seat Tube Bands.
T.D.C. Head Set and Alloy Seat Pin fitted.
OLYMPIC ROAD | £77.50
This Frame appeals to the rider who is not fussy about angles, etc., and is content to leave these to our experience. The Frame is built with Prugnat spearpoint lugs and ⅝” seat stays are used.
The Frame is only built to the specification in our catalogue with brazed on fittings for 10 speed gears only.
Finish—any colour of your choice with contrasting Seat Tube Band.
T.D.C. Head Set and Alloy Seat Pin fitted.
CAMPIONISSIMO ROAD | £67.50
A first class Frame for the beginner, but built with the quality and precision as the dearer Frames.
Specification in the catalogue and finish in one colour to choice, Enamel or Lustre (Flamboyant finishes extra £1.50).
T.D.C. Head Set and Alloy Seat Pin fitted.
All Mercian frames are made from Reynolds 531 Double Butted Tubing.
Reynolds new “Special Lightweight” tubing (approximately ¾lb lighter) can be used on any model, except the Campionissimo and Olympic, at an extra cost of £30.00 plus V.A.T.

[The lower part of Mercian Cycles’ Retail Frame Price List on pink paper, with the King of Mercia, Super Vigorelli, Miss Mercian, Olympic Road and Campionissimo Road frames and their prices. It opens with the end of the Strada Speciale entry and closes with a note on Reynolds 531 and “Special Lightweight” tubing; it carries no handwriting and no folio.]