Vintage Murray Mercury, please help ID

[Flash2070]

Hello to all, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation, in advance for your help in determining the year and style of my very first RR bike. I bought it at a local swap meet. I was

drawn to the lines, vintage, and headbadge. Please let me know if you would like more pic or details. Below is what I have so far.
Saddle: Lobdell stamp on bottom of saddle.
Back hub: New Departure D
Front hub: New Departure W
BB stanp 11020 or it could be 11029. Thanks once again to all.
Flash

 

[RustySprockets]

Just an educated guess, but I'm saying immediately pre- or post-war, so...maybe '40-'41? I believe the sunburst headbadge is a pre-war item, but perhaps not exclusively. The 'ears' below the rear dropouts indicate it was originally equipped with a drop stand and fenders to go with. A tank was available on many models--any evidence of that around the top and intermediate bars? The straight (rather than curvy) downtube is also the hallmark of a pre-war bike.

Congratulations! Mercury was considered quite an upscale bike when new.

 

[RustyGold]

Its a '38-'39 Murray built bike. I would guess earlier rather than later with that badge, as I haven't seen it before. It is cool. These weren't made after WWII and the last versions '41-'42-ish had curved seat tubes, previous to that, '39-'40-ish, had a single forged connection from BB to chain stays...'38-'39 had the open connection like yours. Its possible that isn't the original badge...but, it looks pretty legit. These usually have vertical badge holes, not horizontal.

Jason

 

[RustyGold]

Oh...if you can find a code on the BB that starts with M...that may help, though they don't seem super reliable.

edit...or maybe a W or an X...but, probably an M.

 

[piercer99]

That frame is 1938 or 1939. The chain guard is the correct guard also.

Great bike.

Tune it up, put tires on it and enjoy.