Mercer (automobile)
Automotive parts | |
Production output | 12,893 (1910-1925) |
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Mercer was an
History
The Mercer Automobile Company was formed in May 1909 in
The first Mercer cars arrived in 1910. A.R. Kingston, E.T. George and C.G. Roebling were credited with the design. The Mercer was available as a
The T-head Raceabout was announced late in 1910 for the 1911 model year, this car was the idea of Washington A. Roebling II, and built by the engineer, Finley Robertson Porter. The Mercer T-head engine would power all Mercers through 1914.[1]
Mercers were relatively expensive cars with a median price in 1914 of $2,500, equivalent to $76,047 in 2023. Advertisements by Mercer in 1914 included "The Mercer is the Steinway of the automobile world " and "It is possible to thread a needle while travelling 60 mph." In 1912 Washington A. Roebling II died in the disaster of the Titanic. In 1914 Finley Porter resigned and his place was taken by Eric H. Delling, who designed a new L-head engine. Like the T-head, the Mercer L-head was a four-cylinder, developing at least 70-hp.[2]
Delling updated designs so that even sporting Mercers had windshields and bench seats. Enclosed coachwork, as well as Houdaille shock absorbers were added. Delling departed in 1916 and in 1917 F.W. Roebling died, followed the year after by C.G. Roebling. The Mercer Automobile Company lost direction and in October 1919 a Wall Street syndicate calling itself the Mercer Motors Company acquired control. Former Packard vice-president, Emlen S. Hare became President.[2]
The new Mercer organization acquired a substantial interest in Locomobile and Simplex marques. Hare's Motors resulted from this, but by August of 1921 Hare's Motors collapsed, and control of Mercer passed back to original Mercer people including John L. Kuser.[1]
For 1923 an overhead valve six-cylinder (Rochester engine) was introduced with a three-speed Brown & Lipe gearbox. This joined the four-speed Mercer four-cylinder and Mercers gained front brakes in 1924.[2]
Gallery
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1910 Mercer Model 30
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1913 Mercer Model 35-J
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1916 Mercer Model 22-72
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1917 Mercer Model 22-73 Raceabout
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1922 Mercer Series 5 Raceabout
Type 35R Raceabout and Racing
Mercer 35 Raceabout | ||
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Curb weight | 2,850 lb (1,290 kg) | |
Chronology | ||
Successor | 1915 Mercer Raceabout |
Developed in 1910, the 1911 Type-35R Raceabout, a stripped-down, two-seat
The Mercer Type-35R won five of the six 1911 races it was entered in, losing only the first Indianapolis 500. The Raceabout became one of the premier racing cars of the era- highly coveted for its quality construction and exceptional handling.[4]
In February 1914,
In the 1914 road races in Elgin, Illinois, two Raceabouts collided and wrecked. Spencer Wishart, a champion racer who always wore shirt and tie under his overalls, was killed along with the car's mechanic, John Jenter. This prompted the company to cancel its racing program.[5]
A similar model 1913 Mercer Raceabout, known as a Model 35J, is on permanent display at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, PA, US.[6]
Fate
The Mercer Motors Company, then controlled by former Mercer Automobile people, sold their factory to the Roller Bearing Co. of America in 1925. All other assets were sold to Curran-McDevitt, the Philadelphia Mercer dealership.[1] Production, which had ceased in 1924, was resumed late in the year and continued, though cars were mostly built from parts on hand.[2] Mercer produced its last vehicles in 1925, after some 12,893 had been built.[1]
In 1928 the dormant Mercer Motors Company was sold to a group headed by Harry M. Wahl. Wahl contracted with Elcar Motor Company and its engineer Mike Graffis to build new Mercer prototypes. Mercer Motors Corporation was incorporated on November 21, 1929. Only one Mercer was completed before the effects of the Great Depression ended production plans. This Mercer was shown at the Hotel Montclair during the January 1931 New York Automobile Show and is still extant.[1]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-87341-428-9.
- ^ ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
- ISBN 0-600-33401-5.
- ^ a b Consumer Guide, ed. (14 July 2014). "1911-1915 Mercer Raceabout". How Stuff Works. Archived from the original on 2020-11-29. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- ^ "Discontinue racing". Miami Daily Metropolis. September 19, 1914.
- ^ Simeone, Frederick (15 August 2008). "1913 Mercer Raceabout". Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. Retrieved 10 March 2015.