The Mercian appreciation society

I also grew up in Derbyshire, therefore have always been jealous of Mercian owners, and spent many an hour playing on the frame building part of their website. BUT FINALLY I have just bought this from Hilary Stone.

http://www.hilarystone.com/images/sale%20images/frames/Mercian-1970s.jpg

I'm slightly giddy at the thought of getting it re-sprayed and build it up as a single speed.

I posted this a while back, and today was the joyful day of taking it to Mercian themselves to get it re-done. A berry purple pearl with gold gothic decals and a steel 'world over' head badge.
My dream of having a Mercian of my own (that I could afford) was swiftly shattered when the guy at Mercian told me it wasn't a Mercian frame. The frame number was wrong, where the drop outs connected to the frame weren't quite right and the wrap around seat stem wasn't quite right either. I am GUTTED. I will be informing Hilary Stone of this and hopefully getting a full refund. I have one last hope that it was one of their old frame builder's and Mercian are going to try and track him down and ask him. But it's not looking hopeful. I've been saving for months for this and now I'm back to square one. Totally gutted.