A couple of weeks ago on the Classic Panhead (CP) site on Facebook there was a photo of the letter M on a left case. Several possibilities were mentioned including Malone (Malone factory), Malone Engineering (Ohio), The Motor Shop (Hurricane, Utah) and Mother Earth.
Other possibilities put forward over the years are Mother’s Machine and The Machine Shop.
I already had photos of M on nineteen other left cases and in each example it’s in the same position as the one in the CP discussion. In the centre of the case some are recessed as if to accept a tin inner primary while others are flat as if to accommodate an aluminium inner. Below is one of the latter and I also posted this photo on CP today.
Another possibility I’ve heard more than once is that it indicates Merkel and there has even been talk of cases being bought from one Fred Merkel in the 1970s. But I don’t recall any evidence being provided. Has anyone else bought cases from Mr Merkel? And if so, can you post evidence please. Or can anyone supply proof that the M indicates one of the other possibilities?
Did more than one manufacturer use that lone letter? I don’t know. But if that happened, why is it in the same position in each example I’ve recorded thus far? Can anyone post authentic documentation regarding the M?
Eric
Other possibilities put forward over the years are Mother’s Machine and The Machine Shop.
I already had photos of M on nineteen other left cases and in each example it’s in the same position as the one in the CP discussion. In the centre of the case some are recessed as if to accept a tin inner primary while others are flat as if to accommodate an aluminium inner. Below is one of the latter and I also posted this photo on CP today.
Another possibility I’ve heard more than once is that it indicates Merkel and there has even been talk of cases being bought from one Fred Merkel in the 1970s. But I don’t recall any evidence being provided. Has anyone else bought cases from Mr Merkel? And if so, can you post evidence please. Or can anyone supply proof that the M indicates one of the other possibilities?
Did more than one manufacturer use that lone letter? I don’t know. But if that happened, why is it in the same position in each example I’ve recorded thus far? Can anyone post authentic documentation regarding the M?
Eric
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