1912 Flanders Model 4 Motorcycle

Engine: Vertical, single-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled
Displacement: 483 cc (29.5 ci.)

Bore and Stroke: 82.6 x91.4 mm (3.25 x 3.6 in.)
Power: 2.98 kW (4 hp)
Transmission: 1-forward, manual
Weight: Unknown
Original Cost: C $238 (estimate)

There is little known about the Flanders motorcycle which was produced from 1911-1914, out of Detroit, Michigan, USA. Walter Flanders, who had involvement in many car companies at the time, including EMF, Ford, Studebaker and Flanders, had a side interest in motorcycles. Flanders first produced motorcycles in 1911 and marketed them as quality motorcycles at a low price, however sales were low and production of the motorcycles ceased in 1914.

The production of this motorcycle is closely tied to the automobile industry of the time period. Walter Flanders was a production engineer for Henry Ford before partnering with two other influential vehicle industrialists, Byron "Barney" Everitt, a Canadian carriage and coach builder, and creator of the Wayne automobile and William Metzger, a salesman for Cadillac, to create the Everitt-Metzger-Flanders (EMF) Company. The EMF company was in existence from 1908-1912 but the partnership between the three founders only lasted one year. Everitt and Metzger left EMF in 1909 to create the Everitt Motor Car Cmpany. Flanders stayed with EMF and partnered with Studebaker until 1912 when Studebaker took over the company and Flanders left. While at EMF, Flanders had side projects, including the Flanders electric automobile and the Flanders motorcycle. The motorcyle was produced on the premise that it would be a quality motorcycle at a bargain price but sales were not strong and production was short-lived, being produced from 1911-1914.

This motorcycle has a coaster brake similar to a bicycle and uses a belt drive. The operator’s manual claims an operating range from 6 to 80 kph (4 to 50 mph).

Chronology:

1908 - Byron "Barney" Everitt, William Metzger and Walter Flanders partnered to create the EMF Company.
1909 - Made an arrangement with Studebaker who would sell half of their production.
1909 - Everitt and Metzger were not happy with Studebaker arrangement and left EMF to make their own car, the Everitt. Flanders stayed with EMF.
1909 - The Flanders motor car is introduced, being produced through the EMF company.
1911 - Flanders released his first motorcycle.
1912 - EMF is taken over by Studebaker. Studebaker felt Walter Flanders was devoting too much time to his side projects including and electric car and his motorcycle, so they parted ways.
1914 - Production of the motorcycle ceased.
1969 - Stan Reynolds purchased this motorcycle in Washington State, USA.
1984 - Stan Reynolds donated the motorcycle to the Reynolds-Alberta Museum.