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Mercer (automobile)
Mercer was an American automobile manufacturer from 1909 until 1925. It was notable for its high-performance cars, especially the Type 35 Raceabout.
The Mercer Automobile Company was formed in May 1909 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. It evolved from the Walter Automobile Company, which had built the Walter and Roebling-Planche automobiles. Washington A. Roebling II arranged with William Walter, to take over his automobile company and use a vacant brewery in Hamilton, New Jersey, owned by the Kuser family. Ferdinand Roebling, son of John A. Roebling, was the president, and his nephew Washington became general manager. The secretary-treasurer was John L. Kuser.
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 speedster, toy tonneau or touring car and were powered by four-cylinder L-head Beaver engines.
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.
Mercers were relatively expensive cars with a median price in 1914 of $2,500, equivalent to $78,480 in 2024. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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Mercer (automobile)
Mercer was an American automobile manufacturer from 1909 until 1925. It was notable for its high-performance cars, especially the Type 35 Raceabout.
The Mercer Automobile Company was formed in May 1909 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. It evolved from the Walter Automobile Company, which had built the Walter and Roebling-Planche automobiles. Washington A. Roebling II arranged with William Walter, to take over his automobile company and use a vacant brewery in Hamilton, New Jersey, owned by the Kuser family. Ferdinand Roebling, son of John A. Roebling, was the president, and his nephew Washington became general manager. The secretary-treasurer was John L. Kuser.
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 speedster, toy tonneau or touring car and were powered by four-cylinder L-head Beaver engines.
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.
Mercers were relatively expensive cars with a median price in 1914 of $2,500, equivalent to $78,480 in 2024. 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.
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.
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.
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.