The Merkel Motorcycle

[c.o.]

A family hand me down... very cool...

[LouieMCman]

I got a copy of what I think is a page from one of the old Indian publications that states that

“A financial disaster is created when Indian attempted to revive the Flying Merkel motorcycle. Indian was forced to obtain high interest short term loans to keep the factory in operation. Indian lost $1,273,000 in 1922”.

Anyone ever heard this? Comments?

[exeric]

The only Merkel connection to Indian I am aware of is, Indian bought the assets of the Merkel Motor Wheel and sold the remaining inventory, and then used the tooling and patterns to make more. I don't believe it was a money maker and Indian dropped production. As for the Merkel motorcycle, it was an antique by 1915 and couldn't have been worth reviving. The Indian name had a lot more prestige than the Merkel name. In 1922, Hendee, and Hedstom were done, and Indian was in the hands of a criminal board of directors who came close to putting Indian out of business.

[pisten-bully]

From The Iron Redskin, by Harry V. Sucher, page 133 (Haynes Publishing Group):

[LouieMCman]

That's what I was looking for, thanks Pisten.

[exeric]

I mean this with all due respect to the late Dr. Sucher; but he lists no footnotes for any of his claims. He mentions Mr. Weschler being hesitant to enter into the Merkel motorcycle transaction but that is un-corrobortated speculation, that I have never seen anywhere else in print. Also, Joe Merkel probably did not have the power to suspend production in 1916 because he was an employee of the Miami Cycle Co. and they wholly owned the Merkel and all the rights to manufacture it. As I said, I know Indian bought the inventory, and rights to the Merkel Motor Wheel, but that was a business started by Joe Merkel after he left the Miami Cycle Co. I will apologize for anything I have said if Dr. Sucher's claims can be verified.

[pisten-bully]

Ahhh... that is a problem, anytime something gets published it then becomes the basis for future claims and research whether or not it's entirely accurate, I think the internet is a good example of how possible misinformation can be spread.

In the worlds of science and history it's common for an author to publish a paper on a single narrow topic, but importantly those papers are subject to "peer review" before they get published. Peer review is having others who are knowledgeable in the field get an advanced reading in order to confirm or pick apart the author's conclusions and reports. It would be neat if AMCA was the publisher of such papers. So, if for example, Eric wanted to research and write up this chapter of Merkel/Indian history he could submit it to AMCA who would then distribute it to others in the club for that peer review... then after it was all hammered out it could then be published and set the record straight once and for all.

But then who's got time to thoroughly research something like that?!

[LouieMCman]

The copy I have was supposed to be from Indian factory literature but I can't verify that either. I am writing a history of the Miami Company and do list references of what I found and clearly label speculations when I have no reference. Of course I'm no writer, just an enthusiast with a local interest in the company. I have found a good bit of factory pictures up to when the factory burnt in the 1970's.

[exeric]

I will be very interested in what you have Louie. the Miami Cycle Co. has a rich history with the Miami, Raycycle, Merkel, and medicine cabinet line that they manufactured. People talk about Indian, H-D, Pope, etc. etc. but Miami was a big concern and sure produced some great motorcycles in their heyday.

[Chris Haynes]

I mean this with all due respect to the late Dr. Sucher; but he lists no footnotes for any of his claims. He mentions Mr. Weschler being hesitant to enter into the Merkel motorcycle transaction but that is un-corrobortated speculation, that I have never seen anywhere else in print. Also, Joe Merkel probably did not have the power to suspend production in 1916 because he was an employee of the Miami Cycle Co. and they wholly owned the Merkel and all the rights to manufacture it. As I said, I know Indian bought the inventory, and rights to the Merkel Motor Wheel, but that was a business started by Joe Merkel after he left the Miami Cycle Co. I will apologize for anything I have said if Dr. Sucher's claims can be verified.

Harry had a great talent of believing anything about motorcycles that anybody told him. He would then pass it off as gospel without checking it for accuracy. On a few occasions I would fabricate a fact to Harry then listen as he spread that fact around the group we were with.

[LouieMCman]

I will be very interested in what you have Louie. the Miami Cycle Co. has a rich history with the Miami, Raycycle, Merkel, and medicine cabinet line that they manufactured. People talk about Indian, H-D, Pope, etc. etc. but Miami was a big concern and sure produced some great motorcycles in their heyday.

All I need to do is finish it! As of now it's about 60 pages with lots of pictures. I'll let you know. I may try to upload it to the national library thing, if they want it and if it's still up and running. One interesting but unconfirmed tidbit I found stated Miami made about all the hand grenade castings for WW1! I grew up about 2 miles from the Miami Carey medicine cabinet factory (not the original bicycle/motorcycle factory) and called them about 10 years ago and ask about any bicycle or motorcycle records and they didn't have anything from the old original factory.

[exeric]

It's great that you're doing that Louie and I know how difficult it is to keep the enthusiasim going. The sad reality is, all the players at the Miami Cycle Co., and every other cycle company from that time are long gone. I can understand why Dr. Sucher embelished so much of his writing with speculation because there just wasn't anyone left to ask. The job of a historian is tough, but when you're going down a trail that's been cold for over 90 years, it's going to be hard to see the path through the overgrowth. Again, I appreciate what you're doing.

[jurassic]

[jurassic]

[Jerry Wieland]

Lonnie Should be a nice looking bike when it is done. Always like the Merkels