Flying Merkel

File:Merkel 1909.jpg

The Flying Merkel was a motorcycle of the American company Merkel in Milwaukee, which relocated later to Middletown, Ohio.Jerry Hatfield: Standard Catalog of American Motorcycles. 1898–1981. Krause Publications, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-89689-949-0}}., pp. 378–384 The motorcycle was produced from 1911 to 1915.

Early days

File:1912 Flying Merkel Model W-S.jpg.]]

File:1912 Flying Merkel engine.jpg

File:Flying Merkel emblem.jpg

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".The Art Of The Motorcycle. Guggenheim Museum, Las Vegas, 2001, {{ISBN|0-89207-207-5}}., p. 114.

Technology

File:Flying Merkel front & side.jpg

The Flying Merkel had a conservative engine-control system featuring an automatic inlet valve and a preset outlet valve. The V engine initially displaced {{convert|884|cc|abbr=on}} and delivered {{convert|6|hp|kW|abbr=on|lk=on}}, through a two-speed gearbox and a belt drive, for a maximum speed of {{convert|97|km/h|abbr=on}}. A motorsports version without brake was available with a {{convert|997|cc|abbr=on}} engine, including roller bearings, Bosch magneto ignition, [[Wheeler–Schebler Carburetor Company|

Schebler]] carburetor, and chain drive. The roadworthy version had a band brake on the rear wheel and was sold for US$325.

An innovation was the motorcycle fork, patented by Joe Merkel as a "truss fork", which could be seen{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} 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.

At auction

A replica of the racing version was auctioned in January 2012 at Bonhams for nearly €30,000.[http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19679/lot/303/ bonhams.com] Auktion 19679, lot 303 (downloaded on 18 October 2013) A 1911 Flying Merkel Board Track Racer went for US$423,500 in 2015 and a 1911 Flying Merkel for US$201,250 in 2011.[http://www.gizmag.com/top100-worlds-most-expensive-motorcycles/31958/ Gizmag - World's most expensive motorcycles]

Revival

Currently, Greg Merkel, the great-great-grandnephew of Joe Merkel, has taken ownership of the trademark "Flying Merkel" and has started a revival of the brand called "Flying Merkel Inc".{{better source needed|date=April 2017}}{{Citation |url= https://www.flyingmerkelinc.com/ |publisher= Flying Merkel Inc |title= About }}