Mercer (car)
Encyclopedia
Mercer was an American automobile manufacturer from 1909 until 1925. It was notable for its high-performance cars, especially the Type 35 Raceabout.
There was considerable talent and backing for the Mercer Automobile Company; Ferdinand Roebling, son of John A. Roebling
, was the president, and his nephew Washington A. Roebling, II was the general manager. The Roeblings had extensive success with wire rope manufacturing and suspension bridge design; engineering was not a recent concept for them. The secretary-treasurer was John L. Kuser, who, with his brothers Frederick and Anthony, had amassed a fortune from banking, bottling and brewing.
Washington A. Roebling, II was friends with William Walter, who had been making a small number of high-quality automobiles in New York City
. The Kusers owned a vacant brewery in Hamilton, New Jersey, and brought Walter and his car factory there in 1906. However, Walter found himself deeply in debt by 1909, so the Roeblings and Kusers bought him out in a foreclosure sale. They changed the company name to Mercer, named after Mercer County, New Jersey
. Talented designers and race drivers contributed to the new effort, and the focus became proving their product in competition.
, designed to be "safely and consistently" driven at over 70 mi/h (it was capable of over 90 mi/h). The Raceabout's inline 4-cylinder T-head engine
displaced 293 cubic inch and developed 55 hp at 1,650 revolutions per minute. It won five of the six 1911 races it was entered in, losing only the first Indianapolis 500
. Hundreds of racing victories followed. The Raceabout became one of the premier racing thoroughbreds of the era- highly coveted for its quality construction and exceptional handling.
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. The Raceabout's designer left the company that year, and subsequent designs did not live up to the glory and appeal the Type-35R had earned.
Earlier in February 1914, Eddie Pullen
, who worked at the factory from 1910, won the American Grand Prize held at Santa Monica, California, by racing for 403 miles (648.6 km) in a Raceabout. Later that same year, Eddie also won The Corona Road Race held in Corona, California, on November 26th. For winning the 300 miles (482.8 km) big car event, Pullen won $4000 and an additional $2000 for setting a new world road race record. His average speed of 86.5 mi/h broke the record of 78.72 mi/h set by Teddy Tetzlaff at Santa Monica in 1912.
& Crane-Simplex
marques. Within a few years, the cost of these acquisitions and the economic recession took a financial toll on Hare's Motors. Locomobile was liquidated and purchased by Durant Motors
in 1922, and Mercer produced its last vehicles in 1925, after some 5,000 had been built.
An independent effort to revive the marque in 1931 resulted in only 3 vehicles being constructed and displayed.
The company is currently owned by Fred Hoch
of Schaeffer & Long
.
Early history
John A. Roebling
John Augustus Roebling was a German-born American civil engineer. He is famous for his wire rope suspension bridge designs, in particular, the design of the Brooklyn Bridge.-Early life:...
, was the president, and his nephew Washington A. Roebling, II was the general manager. The Roeblings had extensive success with wire rope manufacturing and suspension bridge design; engineering was not a recent concept for them. The secretary-treasurer was John L. Kuser, who, with his brothers Frederick and Anthony, had amassed a fortune from banking, bottling and brewing.
Washington A. Roebling, II was friends with William Walter, who had been making a small number of high-quality automobiles in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The Kusers owned a vacant brewery in Hamilton, New Jersey, and brought Walter and his car factory there in 1906. However, Walter found himself deeply in debt by 1909, so the Roeblings and Kusers bought him out in a foreclosure sale. They changed the company name to Mercer, named after Mercer County, New Jersey
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
. Talented designers and race drivers contributed to the new effort, and the focus became proving their product in competition.
Type 35R Raceabout
The result was one of the most admired sports cars of the decade; the 1910 Type-35R Raceabout, a stripped-down, two-seat speedsterSpeedster
Speedster may refer to:In automotive:* Opel Speedster* Plymouth Speedster* Porsche Speedster* Studebaker Speedster* Speedster AutomobilesIn fiction:* Speedster , a type of superhero whose primary power is superspeed....
, designed to be "safely and consistently" driven at over 70 mi/h (it was capable of over 90 mi/h). The Raceabout's inline 4-cylinder T-head engine
T-head engine
A T-head engine is an early type of internal combustion engine that became obsolete after World War I.It is a sidevalve engine that is distinguished from the much more common L-head by its placement of the valves. The intake valves are on one side of the engine block and the exhaust valves on the...
displaced 293 cubic inch and developed 55 hp at 1,650 revolutions per minute. It won five of the six 1911 races it was entered in, losing only the first Indianapolis 500
1911 Indianapolis 500
The 1911 Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, or International 500-Mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Tuesday, May 30, 1911...
. Hundreds of racing victories followed. The Raceabout became one of the premier racing thoroughbreds of the era- highly coveted for its quality construction and exceptional handling.
In the 1914 road races in Elgin, Illinois
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
, two Raceabouts collided and wrecked. Spencer Wishart
Spencer Wishart
Spencer Wishart was an American racecar driver. He was active during the early years of the Indianapolis 500. Wishart was killed when he clipped another car during an AAA national championship race and crashed into a tree.-Indy 500 results:...
, 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. The Raceabout's designer left the company that year, and subsequent designs did not live up to the glory and appeal the Type-35R had earned.
Eddie Pullen
Eddie Pullen was an American racing driver who worked for and primarily raced the Mercer marque. He was born in Trenton, New Jersey....
, who worked at the factory from 1910, won the American Grand Prize held at Santa Monica, California, by racing for 403 miles (648.6 km) in a Raceabout. Later that same year, Eddie also won The Corona Road Race held in Corona, California, on November 26th. For winning the 300 miles (482.8 km) big car event, Pullen won $4000 and an additional $2000 for setting a new world road race record. His average speed of 86.5 mi/h broke the record of 78.72 mi/h set by Teddy Tetzlaff at Santa Monica in 1912.
Demise
In October, 1919, after the last involved Roebling brother died (Washington A. Roebling, II perished in the 1912 Titanic disaster), the company was obtained by a Wall Street firm that placed ex-Packard vice-president Emlem Hare in charge, organizing Mercer under the Hare's Motors corporate banner. Hare looked to expand, increasing Mercer's models and production, and also purchasing the LocomobileLocomobile
The Locomobile Company of America was an automobile manufacturer founded in 1899. For the first two years it was located in Watertown, Massachusetts, but production was transferred to Bridgeport, Connecticut during 1900 where it remained until the company's demise in 1929...
& Crane-Simplex
Crane-Simplex
Not to be confused with American SimplexCrane-Simplex is a defunct car manufacturer, operating in New York City, USA at the beginning of the 20th century.-History:...
marques. Within a few years, the cost of these acquisitions and the economic recession took a financial toll on Hare's Motors. Locomobile was liquidated and purchased by Durant Motors
Durant Motors
Durant Motors Inc. was established in 1921 by former General Motors CEO William "Billy" Durant following his termination by the GM board of directors and the New York bankers that financed GM.-Corporate relationships:...
in 1922, and Mercer produced its last vehicles in 1925, after some 5,000 had been built.
An independent effort to revive the marque in 1931 resulted in only 3 vehicles being constructed and displayed.
The company is currently owned by Fred Hoch
Fred Hoch
Fred Hoch is the owner of the Mercer company and of Schaeffer & Long-References:...
of Schaeffer & Long
Schaeffer & Long
One of the few true automobile restoration shops remaining in the world, owned by Fred Hoch, the owner of Mercer Company....
.