Mercer (automobile)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Walter Automobile Company |
| Founded | May 1909 |
| Founder | Washington A. Roebling II, Ferdinand Roebling, John L. Kuser |
| Defunct | 1925 |
| Fate | Manufacturing plant sold to Roller Bearing Co. of America; assets sold to Curran-McDevitt |
| Headquarters | Trenton, New Jersey , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Washington A. Roebling II (general manager), Ferdinand Roebling (president), John L. Kuser (secretary-treasurer), Eric H. Delling (engineer), Emlen S. Hare (president of Mercer Motors Company 1919) |
| Products | Automobiles, including Type 35 Raceabout |
Mercer was an American car manufacturer active from 1909 until 1925, celebrated for producing high-performance automobiles, particularly the Type 35 Raceabout.
History
The Mercer Automobile Company was founded in May 1909 in Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey, as a successor to the Walter Automobile Company. Washington A. Roebling II acquired control of Walter's enterprise and repurposed an unused brewery in Hamilton, New Jersey, owned by the Kuser family. Ferdinand Roebling, son of John A. Roebling, took on the role of president; Washington A. Roebling II acted as general manager; and John L. Kuser served as secretary-treasurer.
Mercer's initial vehicle offerings appeared in 1910, crafted by designers A.R. Kingston, E.T. George, and C.G. Roebling. The range featured speedsters, toy tonneaus, and touring cars powered by four-cylinder L-head Beaver engines.
Toward the end of 1910, Mercer launched the T-head Raceabout for the 1911 model year—developed under Washington A. Roebling II's vision and engineered by Finley Robertson Porter—which supplied the engine for all Mercer models up to 1914.
With a median price around $2,500 in 1914, Mercer marketed itself as a luxury marque using slogans such as "The Mercer is the Steinway of the automobile world." After Washington A. Roebling II perished aboard the Titanic in 1912, Eric H. Delling replaced Porter in 1914 and designed a new four-cylinder L-head engine delivering a minimum of 70 horsepower.
Delling introduced modern features including windshields, bench seating, enclosed coachwork, and Houdaille shock absorbers before his departure in 1916. The company’s strategic direction faltered following the deaths of F.W. Roebling in 1917 and C.G. Roebling in 1918.
In October 1919, a Wall Street group called Mercer Motors Company assumed control with former Packard vice president Emlen S. Hare as president. This entity acquired significant stakes in Locomobile and Simplex brands to form Hare's Motors; however, this conglomerate dissolved by August 1921, returning Mercer to its original leadership team including John L. Kuser.
By 1923, Mercer introduced an overhead valve six-cylinder engine sourced from Rochester combined with a three-speed Brown & Lipe transmission alongside their existing four-speed four-cylinder models. In 1924, front brakes were installed to improve safety and driving performance.
Production models
- Mercer A Touring Car
- Mercer B Toy Tonneau
- Mercer C Speedster
Type 35R Raceabout and Racing
Created in 1910, the Type-35R Raceabout was a minimalist two-seat speedster engineered to sustain speeds exceeding 70 mph and capable of surpassing 90 mph. Its inline-four T-head engine generated approximately 55 horsepower at 1,650 rpm.
The Raceabout dominated competitive racing during 1911 by winning five out of six events, including all major national competitions except for the first Indianapolis 500. Praised for its exceptional build quality and handling characteristics, it earned status as one of the era’s leading race cars.
In 1914, factory driver Eddie Pullen secured victories at both the American Grand Prize and Corona Road Race driving a Raceabout, setting a new world road race record with an average speed over 71 mph and collecting $6,000 in prize earnings.
After a tragic accident during the 1914 Elgin races that claimed the lives of racer Spencer Wishart and mechanic John Jenter, Mercer ceased its racing activities.
A preserved example of a 1913 Model 35J Raceabout is exhibited at Philadelphia’s Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum.
Fate
In 1925, the Mercer Motors Company, then under the direction of former Mercer staff, transferred ownership of its manufacturing plant to the Roller Bearing Co. of America. The remaining company assets were sold to Curran-McDevitt, the Mercer dealership based in Philadelphia. Although production had stopped in 1924, it briefly restarted later that year using leftover components. By 1925, Mercer had manufactured approximately 12,893 vehicles before ceasing operations.
The inactive Mercer Motors Company was purchased in 1928 by a consortium led by Harry M. Wahl. Wahl collaborated with the Elcar Motor Company and engineer Mike Graffis to create new Mercer prototypes. On November 21, 1929, the Mercer Motors Corporation was officially established. Despite these efforts, only a single Mercer vehicle was completed before the onset of the Great Depression halted further production plans. This prototype was displayed at the New York Automobile Show in January 1931 and still exists today.