1911 Alpena Flyer

Many early automobile manufacturers named their companies after the town in which they were based. One such example was Alpena, Michigan, which offered Thomas F. Ahern ten acres of land and $50,000 in cash if he would bring automobile manufacturing to their town. Ahern was a mechanical engineer who was enticed by the deal. Ahern enlisted the help of a friend, Daniel D. Hanover, to establish the Alpena Motor Car Company. In June 1910, the Alpena Motor Car Company was established; a month later, it absorbed the defunct Wolverine Motor Car Company of Mt. Clemens, Michigan. By August, all materials and property were in Alpena facilities.

During the first season, Daniel Hanover had become Alpena's president but had to soon relinquish his position due to poor health. Richard Collins of Alpena, Michigan, took over the presidential duties in late June 1911.

The 1911 Alpena Flyer was available as a 4- or 5-passenger Tourer, a Torpedo roadster, or a Fore-Door Tourer. A 112-inch wheelbase and four-cylinder engine were available. The same engine and platform would be used for the 1912 model year. Alpena introduced a 40-horsepower model in 1912, resting on a 120-inch platform. The following year, the wheelbase size rose to 124 inches with power reaching as high as 50 horsepower.

Production soon ended when the company filed for bankruptcy protection in February of 1914, with assets being purchased by the Besser Manufacturing Company.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2014