Merc London

Milesdeathescape · Jan 24, 2018

I have two size 40R Merc suits. One is Gold Tonic (Vintage out or production) and one Black Pinstriped (also vintage out of production). Does anyone have an idea what they may be worth to sell?

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Canadian · Jan 24, 2018

What are the inseams? I often look at suits online but choose not to buy because the inseam is too short. If they were never hemmed, I'd pay a lot more. I'm a taller guy (46L, inseam 40x35) but I will usually hesitate to buy a 46L suit online if it's already been hemmed.

A bit more information might help. How old, are they made of wool and are there are moth holes, cigarette burns, stains or tears? According to a co-worker, 80s rockabilly is "vintage" and I have a friend from school who bought a 70s style suit from a thrift with wide lapels and pants that were simply too big in the legs, and he considered it the height of modern fashion.

The Merc website has limited amounts of listings for new suits. My general rule is to pay about 150% of modern shop value for something from at least the 1965 or earlier time period.

C.

Milesdeathescape · Jan 24, 2018

Canadian said:
What are the inseams? I often look at suits online but choose not to buy because the inseam is too short. If they were never hemmed, I'd pay a lot more. I'm a taller guy (46L, inseam 40x35) but I will usually hesitate to buy a 46L suit online if it's already been hemmed.

A bit more information might help. How old, are they made of wool and are there are moth holes, cigarette burns, stains or tears? According to a co-worker, 80s rockabilly is "vintage" and I have a friend from school who bought a 70s style suit from a thrift with wide lapels and pants that were simply too big in the legs, and he considered it the height of modern fashion.

The Merc website has limited amounts of listings for new suits. My general rule is to pay about 150% of modern shop value for something from at least the 1965 or earlier time period.

C.

Thanks! Still haven’t really found any answers to my questions online. Maybe that’s a good thing for me! The suits are tucked away right Now but I will be pulling them out in the next few days. My legs are short and the suits have been tailored but I don’t think they have as much reach in the pipes as you need brother.

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GHT · Jan 25, 2018

Why don't you ask an expert? Photograph them from every angle, give every dimension, clearly show any damage or wear, then email your results to Savvy Row or Tweedman. You could also look up any gents vintage wear traders near you.

Milesdeathescape · Jan 25, 2018

GHT said:
Why don't you ask an expert? Photograph them from every angle, give every dimension, clearly show any damage or wear, then email your results to Savvy Row or Tweedman. You could also look up any gents vintage wear traders near you.

I live in Norway now so finding a local expert would at best be myself here! Thanks for the advice, I will check those other guys out!

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Claudio · Feb 8, 2018

Excuse my frankness but ... from my experience Merc has always been synonimous with poor quality and second rate 'Mod' plastic suits (read synthetic). Fused chests and usually made in far east if I remember correctly. They still have this reputation to be honest and so would not think a used Merc suit would have any value. How vintage is it anyway? I think they have been trasing under that name since the late 80's as it was Cavern before?

Edward · Feb 8, 2018

According to both Wikipedia and their website, they've been around since 1967 (though whether under that name it doesn't say). I've had a couple of their Harrington jacket over the years. Very decent - an element of poly, not pure cotton, but not far off the Baracuta at a fraction of the price. The suits tend to be wool-poly. I don't imagine they'd have a huge resale value, though people into the later 60s and 70s aren't so bothered by artificial fibres as we tend to be in these parts.

Claudio · Feb 8, 2018

A harrington of course isn't hard to get 'wrong' and much easier to make than a coat/jacket (to which I was refering to). The 1967 thing is I think is part-truth. They may have opened in 67 and then closed down and re-opened in the 90s. I am quite sure they were not around in the 80s (I and loads of my 'Mod' friends were and labels like Merc would've been known to us) and only appeared in the early 90s. Regardless, I hope you find a good buyer for them no doubt but don't get your hopes too high.

Edward · Feb 8, 2018

Oh, for sure. It's plausible they were under another name from 67; shades of Schott claiming ownership of Johnny Strabler's jacket because they later bought the company who made it. (I guess, to be fair, also possible they were just a small London label that never exported, and pre-web....).

Milesdeathescape · Feb 9, 2018

Claudio said:
Excuse my frankness but ... from my experience Merc has always been synonimous with poor quality and second rate 'Mod' plastic suits (read synthetic). Fused chests and usually made in far east if I remember correctly. They still have this reputation to be honest and so would not think a used Merc suit would have any value. How vintage is it anyway? I think they have been trasing under that name since the late 80's as it was Cavern before?

I think I’ll crawl back into my cave now lol

Claudio · Feb 12, 2018

lol nah mate, just banter and opinions. As I said, I hope I an wrong and wish you well with selling them at a good price

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