Old Motorcycle Snapshot

[Harleyson's]

Found this old Picture:

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/1qq5-22-jpg.html (*)

Who know the Producer of this Motorcycle ?



Fritz

https://www.harleysons.de

[Perry Ruiter]

Circa 1912 Flying Merkel is my guess ... Perry

[Earl]

Wow, look at that glass bowl Heitger carburetor !!!!

[Harleyson's]

Merkel Spring Frame ?

Is this a Merkel Springframe ?



Fritz

[HarleyCreation]

Re: Merkel Spring Frame ?

Originally posted by Harleyson's
Is this a Merkel Springframe ?

Fritz

I'd say it is. Look at how the top of the rear frame stays appear to be outside "sliders" with hidden springs inside the tubes. The whole rear frame section pivots at the crank hanger area in a swing arm effect. I think this Merkel rear cushion frame contains both compression and rebound springs (in the upper part). Probably worked very nicely considering how early it was.

Nice photo.

Joe Merkel was a very cool dude. Wish we knew more about him....

[exeric]

It is a Flying Merkel and I believe it is a 1911. One of the sure ways to tell the difference between an '11 and '12 Merkel is the size of the pedal crank bearing housing. A 1912 will have a larger housing. Also the 1912 had a bigger intake valve and a bigger intake manifold. The Merkel in the photo has the smaller valve. The 1910 was different from the '11 and '12 in that it had a mechanical oil pump which was located on the cam chest cover. It's odd that Merkel would go to the seemingly less sophisticated oil dripper (seen directly in front of the carb intake) in place of a mechanical pump but the dripper was a more reliable oil delivery device.

Joe Merkel was a true pioneer and inovator and his motorcycles proved it with many seminal features that other motorcycles exploited and claimed as their own in later years. It's too bad that the Merkel didn't survive because unlike the many "assembled" motorcycles of that era, the Merkel was an engineered package with originality equal to H-D, Indian, RS, and Henderson.

[Harleyson's]

1911 Flying Merkel produced in Middletown, Ohio

thanks to Perry, Earl, Herb, exeric


From Stephen Wrights The American Motorcycle 1869-1914:

Merkel Spring Frame:

http://www.bilder-hochladen.net/files/1qq5-25-jpg.html (*)



Fritz

[HarleyCreation]

Nice phantom view of the Merkel spring frame.

Joe Merkel was a brilliant guy and we owe part of Harley-Davidson's early success to the 1903 Merkel chassis.

But whatever happened to Joe Merkel in later years?

Where did he end up????

When and where did he die?????

[23JDCA 808]

Here is what I could find on Merkel.

http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/hofbiopage.asp?id=229

...bill

[AdminGuy]

Boy oH -BOY! It sure would be cool if someone would write a history and bio of Joe for the Magazine. Hint-hint....

[23JDCA 808]

Or at least dig up a picture of him for the Motorcycle Museum. Maybe someone in Rocherster NY could check the two civic groups he belonged to? These are mentioned in my previous posted link. ...Bill
Two other links:

http://www.angelfire.com/tx/hotube/

http://www.angelfire.com/tx/hotube/motorwheel.html

[AdminGuy]

This site looks good. Little history for yas.

http://www.theflyingmerkel.com/themerkel.htm

[koanes]

Lots of great pictures. Do you remember the last time you visited the Motorcycle/Victrola shop? I don't understand how the beautiful young woman in the last picture could keep from smiling.

[AdminGuy]

Noticed that cross sell too eh! Good stuff.

She is a cutie. Note the pure white shoes. wow... she's no farm girl.

[23JDCA 808]

This is a great collection of Merkel photos. Can any of these be identidied as Joseph Merkel? ....bill