The 1912 catalog from the Miami Cycle & Manufacturing Company in Middleton Ohio touts the company’s Flying Merkel motorcycle as “The Only Motorcycle with a Spring Frame and a Spring Fork.”
While the Flying Merkel is one of the most sought-after antiques around today, in 1912, it was just one of dozens of motorcycles being produced in the United States. The Miami Cycle & Manufacturing Company was actually the third company to produce the Flying Merkel.
Originally created by Joseph Merkel in 1902, he sold the company to the Light Manufacturing Company in 1909, and then it was sold again to the Miami company in 1911. Despite the fact that it was a relatively small brand, it still became well-known for innovative designs and excellent engineering. The company also enjoyed great success in the racing world.
This 1912 Flying Merkel racer was over two years in the making after about 10 years of collecting parts to put it together. The original motor cases were found at the Oley Swap meet a number of years ago. Other original parts include the carburetor and the magneto. It is on loan to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum for a limited time.
Editors Note:
Here’s some extra information from Wikipedia
The founder of the company, Joe Merkel, began designing engines for motorcycles in 1902, and built his own motorcycles beginning in 1903, including a one-cylinder engine with a capacity of 316 cc, which was also used in the contemporary Indian. In 1908 he set up a company under the name of Light Manufacturing and Foundry Company in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. His motorcycles displayed the trademark “Merkel Light” on the tank. In 1910 he offered the first two-cylinder engine. In 1911 the company was taken over by Miami Cycle and Manufacturing Company of Middletown, Ohio. Subsequently the trademark was changed to “Flying Merkel”, and a bright and shiny orange paint was used, which was later described as “Merkel orange”.
Technology
The Flying Merkel had a conservative engine-control system featuring an automatic inlet valve and a pre-set outlet valve. The V-shaped engine initially displaced 884 cc and delivered 6 hp through a two-speed gearbox and a belt, and had a maximum speed of 97 km/h (60 mph). A motor sports version without brake was available with a 997 cc motor including roller bearings, Bosch magneto ignition, Schebler carburetor and chain drive. The roadworthy version had a band brake on the rear wheel and was sold for $325 USD.
An innovation was the motorcycle fork, patented by Joe Merkel as a “truss fork” and which could be seen as a predecessor of the telescopic fork. The Flying Merkel had an automatically dripping oil feeder, which was subsequently copied by Indian and Harley-Davidson. In 1913 a new model appeared: the engine had now an automatically controlled inlet valve and a spring-loaded kickstarter. Production ceased in 1915. The Flying Merkel achieved its iconic status through the shape of its tank and the colorful body paint. A replica of the racing version was auctioned in January 2012 at Bonhams for nearly 30,000 Euro.
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