THE GENTLEMAN RESTORED ELSEWHERE

As a collector of Canadian made light weight vintage road bicycles, it is unlikely that I will choose to keep bikes from other countries.  That said, I do own a Peugeot PX10 from France and an Italian Tommasini Prestige.  I am seeking a special English bike, preferable a Raleigh International of early seventies vintage, and I would like also to add something high end from Japan.  The point is, a French bicycle was not needed, even though the one I had to consider, at the time, was certainly worth keeping.

But I didn't keep the bike.  One of my repeat customers, a fellow we shall call Bob, contacted me, expressing an interest in a vintage touring bicycle.  Though a bit unsure if the Mercier was actually a touring bike, I did none the less send a set of pictures off to Bob.  Needless to say, he was very interested.

Bob was good enough to purchase a beautiful Proctor Townsend some time ago.  When Bob received his new/old Townsend, he was quick to send me an email, gently scolding me for under-describing the bicycle.  He was very happy with his new vintage bicycle.  So happy, that he contacted me, less than a year later, indicating an interest in purchasing an older bike.  He wanted to try his hand at restoring a vintage road bicycle.  What better candidate than the Mercier Gentleman?

With his sincere interest expressed, I suggested a price to which he agreed quickly.  I should add that I find lots of bicycle for little or even no cash outlay.  With this in mind, I can sell vintage bicycles for very reasonable prices, feeling that both my customers and I have been treated fairly.  Back to Bob's bike...

The Gentleman was packed and shipped in a reasonably timely manner.  Two weeks, plus a day or two, passed and the bike arrived at Bob's place.  And there it sat for a few days, waiting for its new owner to return from one of his frequent business trips away from home.  When he finally did get a chance to open the bike, he sent me an email and thanked me for the Mercier.

My guess is that the bicycle was not a cosmetically acceptable as Bob had hoped.  With that in mind, he decided to redo the paint and art.  The results, in my mind, are stunning!  And, as I write this sentence, I have not even seen the final version of the bicycle, with fenders mounted and ready to ride.

THE MERCIER GENTLEMAN - FINISHED ALMOST

Bob was good enough to send me a few pictures of the Gentleman's Mercier even before he had completed restoring the bicycle.  Still to be installed are the original fenders.  Once completed, Bob promised to send some better shots of the restored bike.

To be continued - I hope!