Maldwyn Jones.

Team Flying Merkel.

Maldwyn Jones.

Jones is on the left in the bottom photo.  Top photo shows his modified Merkel chassis with a  Harley engine.  The bikes in the bottom photo are all Flying Merkels.

Miami built bicycle. The one I let get away!

I bought this at Davenport last Friday.  I didn't entirely know what I had until I started looking it over closely. The Miami Cycle and Manufacturing Company?  Orange paint?  Same company that made the Flying Merkel!  Jeff Decker was looking it over at the same time and said "John" should see this.  I had no idea who "John" was.  I found a picture of the Flying Merkel Badge I own and started walking towards Jeff"s display.  About 3/4 of the way there I run into Jeff and John.  Turns out John is John Parham!  After talking a bit and looking at the bicycle, John offers me 10x what I paid for it!  I reluctantly said yes.  I have way to many projects, and it would just end up hanging on my basement wall.  This way hopefully it will end up in the National Motorcycle Museum for everyone to see.

Early Merkel delivering the mail.

Amazing group of photos taken June 9th 1914 in Toledo Ohio.

Merkel teammates with Jones at the center. 

Bill Goudy in his leather helmet.

Merkel rider Cleo Pineau?

I believe the two above pictures are of  Maldwyn Jones.

These photos were taken at a somewhat pivotal time in the industry.  One month after this event Harley Davidson entered its first factory race team in the Dodge city 300.  One year later in December Yale quit making motorcycles.  This was also one day after Charles "Fearless" Balke was killed practicing on a Chicago area dirt track.  The event pictured here was won by Lee Taylor on a Indian.  Balke was his team mate.

Early motorcycle club.

2014 Barber Vintage Festival. The early American iron at the museum.