New York City
Textile importer Herman Broesel, Sr., brought on board his sons Herman Broesel, Jr., and Carl Broesel who shared a passion for automobile and motor boat racing. Wilbur C. Whitehead was appointed President. Edward Franquist's services were retained.[4]
In January 1908, it was announced that Palmer & Singer would be the sole selling agents for Simplex Automobiles, and C. M. Hamilton, former Simplex salesman, would be joining the firm. The sales room was located in Palmer & Singer’s new building at 1620 Broadway.[5] J. M Quinby & Company continued to be the main coachbuilder for Simplex.[6] Palmer & Singer introduced their own line of cars with the separate Simplex Model 50 offered at $5,750, being the leader of their line.[7][8] For 1909 the Simplex 50hp model remained the main offering. A new, more powerful Simplex was the G. E. Franquist designed 90hp model, that could reach speeds of 90mph.[9] In 1909 American-La France of Elmira, contracted for Simplex 50-hp chassis and engines for their firefighting equipment.[8]
By 1910, the Simplex sales office was located at 1860 Broadway, New York City, and the factory continued to be located at 614 East 83rd Street. Wilbur C. Whitehead retired from the presidency of Simplex Automobile in 1910 to devote his energies to contract bridge.[1]
Motor Boats
Simplex engines powered the Dixie series motor boats which won the Harmsworth Cup four times between 1907 and 1911. Clinton H. Crane was the designer of the Dixie and Simplex series of motor boats. His brother, Henry M. Crane, was involved with Edward Franquist in engine design. Franquist built motor boat engines up to 8-cylinders but Henry Crane did as well.[10]
Motorsport
Simplex actively competed in races and hill-climbs usually with top results. Simplex won the 24 Hour Race at Brighton Beach in 1908 with drivers George Robertson and Frank Lescault.[11] In July 1909, Simplex again won the Brighton Beach 24 Hour race with drivers George Robertson and Al Poole.[12] George Robertson won the Fairmount Park race in Philadelphia in 1909 with his 90 h.p. Simplex.[13]
In May 1910 Simplex won the Brighton Beach 24 Hour race for a third time with drivers Al Poole and Charles Basle.[14] At the 1911 Brighton Beach meet, Simplex driver Leonard Ormsby was disqualified after causing a fatal crash. H. Frey in his Mercer died while avoiding Ormsby during an illegal turn in a practice run. Ralph DePalma replaced Ormsby and Simplex placed third in the race.[15]
New Jersey and New York
Simplex established a new plant in New Brunswick, New Jersey and moved in on November 15, 1911.[15] With the closing of the New York City factory, a large service department in Long Island City at Vernon Avenue and 12th Street was established. Simplex sales office was now at 59th Street and Central Park, South.[18]
On June 5, 1912 Herman Broesel died and in September 1913 his sons sold the company to Bankers Goodrich, Lockhart and Smith of New York, NY. Henry Lockhart, Jr. became president. John D. Dale, Sales Manager and G. E. Franquist, Factory Superintendent, remained as directors. Herman A. Broesel, Jr. became the manager of the Long Island City Service Department and Carl A. Broesel joined Franquist in New Brunswick. The Simplex Automobile Capital was increased from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000.[19]
Simplex, Crane Model 5
The Crane Motor Company of Bayonne, New Jersey, built automobiles from 1912 to 1915. The Crane Model 3 was a six-cylinder car offered only as a chassis. The chassis was priced at $8,000, the highest priced American chassis on the market. Crane favored Brewster & Co. as a coachbuilder and most Crane automobiles were bodied by that firm. Only about 20 Crane Model 3s were made in 1912 and 1913. By 1914 a Model 4 was produced by Crane. It differed in having the six cylinders cast in two blocks of three instead of three pairs.[20][21]
This new six cylinder design attracted the attention of the Simplex Automobile Company. The Simplex needed a more refined design than the large chain-drive four-cylinder automobiles it was producing. In July 1915, the Simplex Automobile Company purchased the Crane Motor Company, acquiring at the same time the services of Henry Middlebrook Crane.[22] Henry M. Crane became second vice-president and Chief Engineer.[20]
Wright-Martin and World War I
In October 1915, the Wright Company of Garwood, New Jersey entered into an agreement to purchase the Simplex Automobile Company. In November Henry Lockhart, Jr. became President of Wright.[25] In August of 1916 Wright Company merged with the Glenn L. Martin Company and the new Wright-Martin Aircraft Corporation would purchase all outstanding Simplex Automobile Company stock to make it a wholly owned subsidiary. Henry Lockhart, Jr. and Henry M. Crane would continue as Directors with Wright-Martin.[26]
The Simplex plant would begin construction of aviation motors for Wright-Martin. Morris Metcalf was appointed vice-president in charge of the Simplex departments of sales, body, service and publicity.[26] The Simplex Automobile Company plant was enlarged to begin production off the Hispano-Suiza airplane engine under license.[27][28]
Slow Demise
In January 1920, the Mercer Motor Company of Trenton, NJ under the control of Emlen S. Hare, would absorb the assets of the Simplex Automobile Company. Automobile equipment was relocated to the Vernon Avenue building in Queens which had been used as a service department. In February 1920 Hare's Motors, Incorporated was organized to take over the assets of Locomobile, Mercer and Simplex.[30][31] Kelly-Springfield Motor Truck Company was added in November 1920.[32]
In July 1921 Hare's motors announced it would be dissolved and the separate units would reorganize as individual companies. Simplex which was still not producing cars, reverted to Mercer ownership. By July 1922, a reorganization of Mercer Motors and reversal of its arrangements with Hare Motors was finally completed. In November of 1922, Henry M. Crane announced the Crane-Simplex Company with the Queens, New York plant and assets being purchased from Mercer. Plans for 100 cars per year production were spelled out, but it appears production never resumed.[33]
