1939 Mercury Velocipede Tricycle (World's Fair Model)

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Designed by Viktor Schreckengost, Murray’s chief designer, the streamlined 1939 Murray Mercury bicycle was launched to much acclaim at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

It became the 1939 New York Worlds Fair’s ‘official bicycle’ and several were on display in the MAN Building at the Fair.

Viktor Schreckengost was one of America’s most prolific designers. He died in 2007, aged 101. My American friend Jerry, a keen bicycle collector, visited Viktor in the early 1990s. Viktor must have been in his eighties then, and Jerry told me he was very impressed by the fact that Viktor’s wife was half Viktor’s age!

The previous model of Mercury had been designed by the equally renowned designer Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky, and it featured a headlight pod above the handlebars that was a radical design statement. When Viktor took over styling duties in 1938 for the new model, there was obviously some pressure on him to go one better …and to create a new radical headlight feature.

Viktor explained: ‘…Originally we had planned to put tiny headlights atop the outside of the tank, but that didn’t work out to be as pleasing as we wanted. Then I hit upon the idea of incorporating them into the tank. Everyone loved it and that is how we displayed it at the World’s Fair.’

Historian Leon Dixon adds: ‘Things were in such a rush to get ready for the World’s Fair exhibit that the elaborate diecast metal art-deco headpiece was not even plated as were later production models. Nor did it include the word Mercury as did later production models. Instead, it was simply polished. Ultimately, this design (with minor modifications) continued through 1941 and was stopped when WW2 began.’

The Mercury World’s Fair Pacemaker bicycle is rare and sought-after these days. But the velocipede tricycle featured here, which mirrors the design of the bicycle, is even harder to find.

1939-1941 Mercury Velocipede Tricycle

World’s Fair Model

LENGTH: 31″

WIDTH: 19″

HEIGHT: 30″

Front wheel 16″

Rear wheels 9″

with solid tyres

Its unique design touches meant that the 1939 Mercury tricycle stood out from the crowd just like the 1939 Mercury bicycle. Nevertheless, in 1939 when it was launched for the New York World’s Fair, war clouds were gathering in Europe, and production lasted just two years before Pearl Harbour forced America into the war. Today these are rare tricycles, and the last of the streamlined styles of the 1930s.

Though a little play-worn, this example is in good unrestored original condition. As you can see, its unique saddle matches the over-the-top design of the Mercury front shroud.

1937 & 1941 STEELCRAFT CATALOGUE EXTRACTS

Compare the 1937 Sakhnoffsky, above, with the Schreckengost (1941) Mercury below. Steelcraft advertised three models in their 1941 catalogue: the Flash, finished in blue enamel with red trim and white striping ($6.96); the Streak ($5.24) in green and white enamel; and the more luxurious Streamliner painted black with orange and white trim.