Oldtimer gallery. Motorcycles. The Flying Merkel.

Oldtimer picture gallery. Motorcycles. Pre-1932 USA makes. The Flying Merkel.
1911-1917, The Miami Cycle & Mfg. Co., Middletown, Ohio, USA.
1911, Merkel-Light Motor Co., Pottstown, Pennsylvania, USA.

Entrance Gallery Motorcycles Pre-1932 USA motorcycles

In May 1911 the Merkel-Light Motor Company has been bought by The Miami Cycle & Manufacturing Company, and production moved from Pottstown (PA) to Middletown (OH). The badge and the record on the tank have been changed. For the season of 1912 the Miami Cycle & Mfg. Co. cancelled the production of own Racycle motorcycles and concentrated on The Flying Merkel only. On April 6, 1917 USA declared war on Germany. Since The Flying Merkel motorcycles used German Hess-Bright ball bearings throughout the engine, the motorcycle production has been discontinued.

Motorcycles

1917 - affairs have been in poor condition already. No surprize, - factory price of 1916-1917 Ford-T was almost comparable - $350 only, but that was a complete automobile! I haven't pictures of big 1917 The Flying Merkel motorcycles, only Merkel Motor Wheel.
1916 (footboards, dual brake, flaps of front fender, optional: Corbin-Brown speedometer - $15, tandem attachment - $20, sidecar - $75)
1916 The Flying Merkel Model 641, 1-cyl. IOE, 5¹/₂hp, 30.46 cu. in. (499.2cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, $200, 21k poster.
1916 The Flying Merkel Model 643, 1-cyl. IOE, 5¹/₂hp, 30.46 cu. in. (499.2cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", magneto ignition, 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, $225, 21k poster.
1916 The Flying Merkel Model 671, V2-cyl. IOE, 9hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", magneto ignition 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, $225, 21k poster.
1916 The Flying Merkel Model 673, V2-cyl. IOE, 9hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", magneto ignition 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, $250, 25k poster.
1916 The Flying Merkel Model 675, V2-cyl. IOE, 9hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", magneto ignition 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, direct starter, $260, 22k poster.
1915 (optional: Corbin-Brown speedometer - $15, tandem attachment - $20, 3" tires for models 541, 570, 571 - $2 (stndrd eqpmnt for the rest models), Goodyear Blue Streak 3" tires for all models - $4.75)
1915 The Flying Merkel Model 541, 1-cyl. IOE, 5¹/₂hp, 30.46 cu. in. (499.2cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, footboards, dual brake, $200 ($215 early catalog), color Merkel orange, optional - National blue, 37k poster.
1915 The Flying Merkel Model Special No. 1, V2-cyl. IOE, 9hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, without luggage carrier, $200 (early catalog), color black only (! orange in catalog!), 133k poster.
1915 The Flying Merkel Model Special No. 2, V2-cyl. IOE, 9hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, without luggage carrier, $225 (early catalog), color black.
1915 The Flying Merkel Model 570, V2-cyl. IOE, 9hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 1-speed, V-belt drive, ? mph, footboards, $225 ($240 early catalog), color Merkel orange, optional - National blue, 41k poster.
1915 The Flying Merkel Model 571, V2-cyl. IOE, 9hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, footboards, dual brake, $225 ($240 early catalog), color Merkel orange, optional - National blue, 53k poster, 318k photo.
1915 The Flying Merkel Model 573, V2-cyl. IOE, 9hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, footboards, dual brake, $250 ($265 early catalog), color Merkel orange, optional - National blue, 24k poster, 273k photo (the middle one is 573 or 575).
1915 The Flying Merkel Model 575, V2-cyl. IOE, 9hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, footboards, dual brake, direct starter, $260 ($275 early catalog), color Merkel orange, optional - National blue, 108k poster, 79k photo, 37k photo.
1914 (headlight holder, improved free clutch and automatic brake, carburetor with air shutter. Optional: Corbin-Brown speedometer - $15, 3" tires for all models - $2. Included (440, 441, 473), optional (470, 471) - luggage carrier ($5), foot boards ($5), foot brake on foot boards ($5))
1914 The Flying Merkel Model 440, 1-cyl. IOE, 4hp, 30.46 cu. in. (499.2cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, V-belt drive, ? mph, $225, color Merkel orange, 17k poster.
1914 The Flying Merkel Model 441, 1-cyl. IOE, 4hp, 30.46 cu. in. (499.2cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, $225, color Merkel orange, 17k poster, 78k photo.
1914 The Flying Merkel Model Forty-Five, 1-cyl. IOE, 4hp, 30.46 cu. in. (499.2cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition, 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, footboards, $?, color Merkel orange.
1914 The Flying Merkel Model 470, V2-cyl. IOE, 7hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 1-speed, V-belt drive, ? mph, $225 ($240 early catalog), color Merkel orange, 53k poster.
1914 The Flying Merkel Model 471, V2-cyl. IOE, 7hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 1-speed, chain drive, 50 mph, $225 ($240 early catalog), color Merkel orange, 61k poster, 273k 1915 photo (the right one), 33k photo of racer.
1914 The Flying Merkel Model 473, V2-cyl. IOE, 7hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, footboards, $290 ($305 early catalog), color Merkel orange, 108k poster, 93k photo of Special Fire Dept. model, 185k photo.
1913 (completely new row of models: new frames, new motors, 2-speed free engine hub, self-starter (models 45 and 75, no pedals), new tanks, one rear spring tube instead of two tubes, new stand. Optional: Corbin-Brown speedometer - $15, footboards for models 40, 41, 70, 71 - $3, 3" tires for V2 models - $2.5, 2³/₄" tires for 1-cyl. IOE models - $3.5.)
1913 The Flying Merkel Model Forty, 1-cyl. IOE, 4hp, 30.46 cu. in. (499.2cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, V-belt drive, ? mph, $?, color Merkel orange, 9k poster.
1913 The Flying Merkel Model Forty-One, 1-cyl. IOE, 4hp, 30.46 cu. in. (499.2cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, $?, color Merkel orange, 9k poster.
1913 The Flying Merkel Model Forty-Five, 1-cyl. IOE, 4hp, 30.46 cu. in. (499.2cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition, 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, footboards, $?, color Merkel orange, 8k poster.
1913 The Flying Merkel Model Seventy, V2-cyl. IOE, 7hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 1-speed, V-belt drive, ? mph, $?, color Merkel orange, 8k poster, 44k photo, 46k photo.
1913 The Flying Merkel Model Seventy-One, V2-cyl. IOE, 7hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, $?, color Merkel orange, 121k photo, 85k photo, 367k 1914 photo (the right one), 176k 1915 photo, 33k photo.
1913 The Flying Merkel Model Seventy-Five, V2-cyl. IOE, 7hp, 60.92 cu. in. (998.3cc), bore 3¹/₄", stroke 3⁴³/₆₄", Bosch magneto ignition 2-speed, chain drive, ? mph, footboards, $355, color Merkel orange, 50k poster.

Some racing motorcycles carried "Flying Merkel" without "The" on the tanks:
95k 1913 Maldwyn Jones in Middletown, Ohio, 64k 1913 Maldwyn Jones at Mansfield, Ohio, 109k Maldwyn Jones, 36k Maldwyn Jones.

1912 (new Merkel carburetor, shock absober for spring-frame models added in 1912, optional 2-speed gearbox for all the models for extra $40, optional free engine pulley for extra $15, optional luggage carrier for extra $5, tandem attachment for extra $25.)
1912 The Flying Merkel Model W-S rigid frame, 1-cyl., 4hp, 30.38 cu. in. (497.9cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, V-belt drive, 5...50 mph, $200, color Merkel orange.
1912 The Flying Merkel Model W-S rigid frame, 1-cyl., 4hp, 30.38 cu. in. (497.9cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, 5...50 mph, $200, color Merkel orange, 36k poster.
1912 The Flying Merkel Model W-S spring frame, 1-cyl., 4hp, 30.38 cu. in. (497.9cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, V-belt drive, 5...50 mph, $225, color Merkel orange, 33k poster, 195k photo.
1912 The Flying Merkel Model W-S spring frame, 1-cyl., 4hp, 30.38 cu. in. (497.9cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, 5...50 mph, $225, color Merkel orange, 36k poster.
1912 The Flying Merkel Model V spring frame, V2-cyl., 6hp, 53.92 cu. in. (883.6cc), bore 3.25", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, V-belt drive, 5...60 mph, $250, color Merkel orange, 37k poster, 91k photo (V or V-S).
1912 The Flying Merkel Model V spring frame, V2-cyl., 6hp, 53.92 cu. in. (883.6cc), bore 3.25", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, 5...60 mph, $250, color Merkel orange, 34k poster.
1912 The Flying Merkel Model V-S spring frame, V2-cyl., 7hp, 60.76 cu. in. (995.7cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, V-belt drive, 5...70 mph, $275, color Merkel orange, 91k photo, 91k photo, 358k 1915 photo (V or V-S).
1912 The Flying Merkel Model V-S spring frame, V2-cyl., 7hp, 60.76 cu. in. (995.7cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, 5...70 mph, $275, color Merkel orange, 81k photo, 59k photo.
1912 The Flying Merkel Model V-S racer, V2-cyl., 7hp, 60.76 cu. in. (995.7cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, $?, color Merkel orange, 33k poster.

V and V-S models are the same from outside.
Outer difference between 1911 and 1912 models:
1911 carburetor	1912 carburetor

1911 (optional 2-speed gearbox for all the models for extra $40, optional free engine pulley for extra $15, optional luggage carrier for extra $5. W-S: longer handlebars (as V and V-S).)
All the non-racer models differ only by engine, which are interchangeable.
1911 The Flying Merkel Model W-S, 1-cyl., 4hp, 30.38 cu. in. (497.9cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, V-belt drive, 5...50 mph, $250, color Merkel orange, 108k photo, 83k more earlier W-S, 174k photo, 26k photo, 26k 1915 photo, 63k photo (luggage carrier is 1913).
1911 The Flying Merkel Model W-S racer, 34k photo.
1911 The Flying Merkel Model V, V2-cyl., 6hp, 53.92 cu. in. (883.6cc), bore 3.25", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, V-belt drive, 5...60 mph, $300, color Merkel orange, 106k photo, 86k more earlier V, 95k photo, 157k photo (V or V-S), 157k photo (V or V-S), 118k 1911 photo (V or V-S).
1911 The Flying Merkel Model V-S, V2-cyl., 7hp, 60.76 cu. in. (995.7cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, V-belt drive, 5...70 mph, $325, color Merkel orange, 40k photo, 11k photo, 54k 1911 photo (V or V-S).
1911 The Flying Merkel Model V-S racer, V2-cyl., 7hp, 60.76 cu. in. (995.7cc), bore 3.45", stroke 3.25", Bosch magneto ignition, 1-speed, chain drive, ? mph, $?, color Merkel orange, 24k photo.

Models of 1910 carried the name "Merkel-Light" on the tank. They were the same in general.

Bicycles (early 1912 - 1923), 1917 label (48k), 1920 label (74k)

1921
   Flying Merkel Model FA1, 102k poster
   Flying Merkel Model FB1, 109k poster
   Flying Merkel Model FG1, 101k poster
   Flying Merkel Model FJ1, 99k poster
   Flying Merkel Model FK1, 105k poster
   Flying Merkel Model FL1, 101k poster
   Flying Merkel Model FP1, 108k poster
   Flying Merkel Model FS1 racer, 73k poster
   Flying Merkel Model FT1, 101k poster
1920
   Flying Merkel Scout ? Model, 118k photo
1917
   Flying Merkel Model 422, 42k poster
   Flying Merkel Model 424, 47k poster, 69k poster
   Flying Merkel Model 426, 47k poster, 86k poster
   Flying Merkel Model 427, 45k poster
   Flying Merkel Model 428, 47k poster
   Flying Merkel Model 429, 42k poster
   Flying Merkel Models F-34, F-35, F-37, 43k poster
   Flying Merkel Saddles, 22k poster
1916
   The Flying Merkel Scout Model 414, 48k poster
   The Flying Merkel Light Roadster Model 416, 42k poster
   The Flying Merkel Princess Model 417, 41k poster
   The Flying Merkel Roadster Model 418, 41k poster
   The Flying Merkel Juvenile Models F32...F37, 48k poster
1915
   The Flying Merkel Scout Model 400, 184k poster
   The Flying Merkel Special Model 404, Roadster Model 406, 198k poster
   The Flying Merkel Roadster Model, not 406, 83k photo
1913
   Flying Merkel Bicycle, 46k poster

Photos and data are from:
Author's archive.
Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles 1898-1981 by Jerry Hatfield.
eBay.
eBay Canada.
The Hagley Digital Archives.
MECUM Auctions.
The Cabe.
Valuable Rare Cards.
PreWarCar.it.
AValuer.
WorthPoint.
The Flying Merkel.
Wikipedia.
The Flying Merkel.
Bonhams.
Classic Motorcycle Mecca.
1912 Flying Merkel.
Dick Shappy Classic Cars.
Yesterdays antique motorcycles.
Boardtrack Primer.
William Parks collection.
Etsy.
OldMotoDude.
Classic Moto-Cycles, Musings Of A Motorcycle Aficionado blog.
Vintage American Bicycles.
Protean Paper.
Dave�s Vintage Bicycles.

What else in the net:
The Flying Merkel.

Thanks for help to Evgenii Pevzner (Moskva), motorcycle historian.

Entrance Gallery Motorcycles Pre-1932 USA motorcycles Sale Links

Last updated 20 IV 2021. Andrei Bogomolov. Contact Information.