Hey gang,

I'm a new poster on this forum, so I thought I'd just chirp in and say "Hi."

Thanks to a nice gentleman on the mtbr forums, I'm now the owner of a late 50's or early 60's Mercury...not sure of the model or the exact year yet...but I'll let you know if we ever pin it down.

Anyway, I may have questions about Huret derailleurs and Solida cotter pin cranks in the not too distant future...just thought I'd forwarn you :)

We would love to see it. Post some pictures when you can. :)

Certainly...it is on my "to do" list for the next time I dig out the camera. I want to use the emblem as the avatar as well...so I have double the motivation.

Bikes of that vintage are quite rare here. In fact I'm not aware of any of the regular members here that have something that old. I'd like to see it. I'd love to have a bike similar to what Koblet or Coppi would have ridden.

Just an update...found the serial number (finally!). It is on the top tube, just in front of the seattube. If Mercury did what is typical for some manufacturers, the first two digits should be the year....if that is in fact the case, then the bike is a 1955.

I've taken off and stored the Bluemel fenders and early 80's vintage rear rack. The bike will be getting a some things added to turn it into a commuter (new rubber and tubes, a new rack that will work with modern panniers, a computer [the old odometer that was on it reads 746 miles and has been removed and stored] and the needed lights)...but I'm not going to go overboard. I want the original character of the bike to shine through. I'll also likely replace the bar tape....doesn't look original and is in pretty poor shape.

Photos to come when I get a chance over the holidays.

Okie dokie...here are some photos:

Here's a shot of our current stable at home. The Mercury is first, then my wife's Diamondback hybrid, then my Gary Fisher Cake 2DLX.
http://members.shaw.ca/templetagteam/Merc4.JPG

Here's the Mercury all by itself:
http://members.shaw.ca/templetagteam/Merc1.JPG

The Altenburger brakes (close up):
http://members.shaw.ca/templetagteam/Merc3.JPG

The Solida cotter pin cranks and Huret front der:
http://members.shaw.ca/templetagteam/MercA.JPG

And finally, the Huret Allvit rear der and big honkin' Sturmly spoke protector:
http://members.shaw.ca/templetagteam/Merc6.JPG

Methuselah is quite the machine...can't wait to see what a 52-14 run feels like on 1.25" skinny tires....my Cake's 44-11 is a bugger on the asphalt with the 2.1" knobbys.

Sorry Mike, I meant to launch a new thread, not hijack yours. Withdrawn.

Hey, no worries Sekaijin,

Just glad I'm not the only nut out there running an old rig.

Mike, that is a pretty old bike (pretty and old) and those pix are huge! I never heard of Solida cranks, but the chainrings look a lot like my TA Cyclotouriste rings.

I'm still trying to track down the exact age of the bike. Anyone know of a source of Mercury serial numbers and production year?

I replaced the tires that were on it this past week....the rubber was old (70's or 80's Specialized), but the rear tube was older yet...9 patches, banded build and a "Raleigh K T 2/55" proof stamp on it.

I know it has a 2nd generation Huret Allvit rear derailleur, but it may or may not be the original...

Anyway, the bike is now set up as a commuter (rear rack and packs, new tires and tubes, lights and so forth). I took it over to the local shop for an adjustment to the stem (wasn't sure where the loosen to align it right)..they were surprised...not a metric anything on the bike so none of their tools worked.

Anyway, the bike rides out pretty well and, thought I was taking it easy as we had some fresh snow, it was up to 18km/h in just 2nd gear (36-22) with me hardly working at all! Can't wait to see what this oldie can do with good roads and in top gear.

To me that Mercury looks like it's from the 1960's. Or early 1970's at the latest. Sorry to say, it doesn't look to be a top of the line racer, either. I believe I had an Allvit derailleur on my Royce Union, which I had when I was a kid in about '65. The seatpost is just a post. There's no hardware on which to mount the saddle. The lugs on the frame are large and long. By the 1970's, shorter, trimmer lugs became the norm. It looks like the chainrings are quote-unquote Alpine Gears, another memory from my distant youth. The use of wingnuts on the front hub and nuts to fasten the rear wheel to the frame are the stuff of cheap 1960's bikes also. It's got side-pull brake when at the time the better bikes all had center-pulls.

To me that Mercury looks like it's from the 1960's. Or early 1970's at the latest. Sorry to say, it doesn't look to be a top of the line racer, either. I believe I had an Allvit derailleur on my Royce Union, which I had when I was a kid in about '65. The seatpost is just a post. There's no hardware on which to mount the saddle. The lugs on the frame are large and long. By the 1970's, shorter, trimmer lugs became the norm. It looks like the chainrings are quote-unquote Alpine Gears, another memory from my distant youth. The use of wingnuts on the front hub and nuts to fasten the rear wheel to the frame are the stuff of cheap 1960's bikes also. It's got side-pull brake when at the time the better bikes all had center-pulls.

Yeah, we're still trying to figure out the age...best guesses range from late 50's to early 70's.

The fellah who gave me this bike has a couple of old Peugeots and a Raleigh...including a couple of Criterion bikes....when compared, the Mercury has a lot less racey cut to it. It isn't a sprint/race bike...it looks more like it was designed for a moderately paced long-haul. It had (I've removed and stored) a full set of Bluemel fenders and an odometer on it as well as a rear rack...with all the lugs and such for all that gear. I figure it is a low to mid-line touring bike...nothing spectacular in the parts kit for it, but it has survived the years quite well (other than needing a really good cleaning). With a modern rack on it, it actually looks right at home with panniers and a racksack.

Now considering my other bike is an '06 Gary Fisher Cake 2 DLX (modern full suspension mountain bike), this one is definitely a change of pace :) On road, the Mercury will be in its element and should cruise a heck of a lot faster :D

Dang... how did I miss this post from my good friend ?

Perhaps it's because I know him as "PsychoMike" from the MTBR board.

I'm responsible for the Merc and Mike's SS and seem to ride some of the oldest bikes on the block... among those is a 1933 CCM cruiser, a 1940 CCM cruiser, and a 1955 Peugeot PLX 10 Grande Tourisme.

I still haven't seen that Merc since the re-do (and the puictures aren;t showing up) so I might have ro ride on over to Mike's to take a look see.