(un)Solved Mysteries

The Épalle Mystery (UPDATE III: no Mercer engine)

Some weeks ago Manfred Heyne from Germany bought the Épalle Type B 16 hp you see here. This automobile was made in St. Etienne, France by Épalle et Compagnie from 1910 to 1914. The Beaulieu Encyclopedia only has a very small entry about the Épalle: Nick Georgano tells us that a range of four cars was listed, an 8/10hp 2/cylinder, and three fours of 10/12, 12/16 and 14/20hp. They were all of conventional design with shaft drive. That’s all we know, folks! Thus the question is obvious. Can anybody help Manfred with more information about the Épalle history in general or perhaps knows more about the past whereabouts of this car? Maybe you can even identify the engine as one of a proprietary engine manufacturer? Contact us!

UPDATE III by David Greenlees (Mercer expert & restorer):"That is a good guess but it is not a 1911 - 14 T-Head Mercer. The 1910 Mercer had a Beaver engine which was I believe was an L-head. "
Update II by Toby Ballard: "The engine looks so much like the 4cyl La France, almost identical. It's not a La France engine though, however the La France engine was a copy of the Simplex and Mercedes engines of the time. But my best guess is that it is a Mercer engine of the around the 1910 mark as the water jackets on the top of the cast pair blocks are identical as is most of the engine."
Update I by Fons Alkemade: “This must certainly be the Épalle I have seen before it was restored. I found the owner thought the French Magazine La Vie de l'Auto, but when I met the owner, he didn’t know much about either car or history. I think only an extensive search in the St. Etienne archives will yield more information.”

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

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