I bought this unknown road/path frame a while back, and it was advertised as having "some Mercian-like features". Having had a trawl through the Mercian Frame Registry, I can agree that's true, but there's nothing to really nail it as one.
On the one hand, similar lugs, 'ridged' seatstay caps and rear brake bridge can all be found found on Mercians of the era, and while most of their road/path frames had brazed-on rear mudguard eyes, there are a couple of late 50's examples that have drilled eyes like this.
On the other hand, I can't find any match for the fork crown - there's one or two that are similar, but all Mercian crowns seem to have at least some degree of 'tang'.
There's also no trace of a frame number on the BB shell, dropouts or steerer tube, and I can't help but think the similarities are simply confirmation bias, a consequence of Mercian being documented better than most other marques.
I've been gathering parts to build it up in a late 50's style, and would like to have a better idea of what exactly I've got before deciding what to do about a respray (the current paint is a DIY effort and partial removal offers no trace of any decals underneath, just the hint that it was originally black).
So, can anyone help shed any light on it?
On the one hand, similar lugs, 'ridged' seatstay caps and rear brake bridge can all be found found on Mercians of the era, and while most of their road/path frames had brazed-on rear mudguard eyes, there are a couple of late 50's examples that have drilled eyes like this.
On the other hand, I can't find any match for the fork crown - there's one or two that are similar, but all Mercian crowns seem to have at least some degree of 'tang'.
There's also no trace of a frame number on the BB shell, dropouts or steerer tube, and I can't help but think the similarities are simply confirmation bias, a consequence of Mercian being documented better than most other marques.
I've been gathering parts to build it up in a late 50's style, and would like to have a better idea of what exactly I've got before deciding what to do about a respray (the current paint is a DIY effort and partial removal offers no trace of any decals underneath, just the hint that it was originally black).
So, can anyone help shed any light on it?
. If ithad a curved rear brake bridge Holdsworth would have sprung to mind. As its straight then it has a look of Ephgrave / O'Brien / Vic Edwards........
