An ACE was lost today December 11, 1922 309s
A visionary and trailblazer in the early 20th-century motorcycle industry, William
G. Henderson left an indelible mark with his contributions as the co-founder
of Henderson Motorcycles and later as the founder of Ace Motor Corporation.
Born in 1886, in Scottland, Henderson's fascination with mechanical engineering
manifested at an early age. His passion for innovation and machinery set the
stage for a remarkable career that would shape the landscape of American
motorcycles.
In 1911, Henderson, alongside his brother Tom, embarked on a journey that would
define his legacy. Together, they founded the Henderson Motorcycle Company in
Detroit, Michigan. The company quickly gained acclaim for producing powerful,
reliable, and well-engineered motorcycles. Henderson's keen engineering acumen
was evident in the inline four-cylinder inline engines that powered their
motorcycles, setting them apart from the competition.
The pinnacle of Henderson's early career came with the introduction of the
Henderson Model D, which featured a groundbreaking 1,301 cc engine. Launched in
1912, the Model D became an icon of American motorcycle design, admired for its
speed and innovative features. Henderson Motorcycles established a reputation
for excellence, earning the loyalty of riders who sought performance and
quality.
Alan Bedell was one of those riders, on June 13, 1917 Bedwell traversed his Henderson from Los Angeles, California, to New York City, roughly 3300 miles in seven days, sixteen hours, and fifteen minutes,
breaking the record set by “Cannonball” Baker on an Indian Twin. It was such a proud
moment for the Henderson brothers that beer was free in Detroit that day.
Despite their record-breaking and endurance racing success, the industry was not
without its challenges. In 1917, as the United States entered World War I, the
government redirected manufacturing efforts toward the war. Henderson
Motorcycles, like many other companies, shifted production to support the war
effort by providing motorcycles for military use.
Henderson faced financial difficulties, and in 1917, the Henderson brothers sold their
company to Ignaz Schwinn, the owner of Excelsior Motor Manufacturing &
Supply Company. Despite parting ways with the company he co-founded, William G.
Henderson's passion for motorcycles persisted.
Determined to make another mark on the industry, Henderson didn't stay on the sidelines
for long. In 1919, he founded the Ace Motor Corporation in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. With a renewed commitment to innovation, Henderson set out to
create motorcycles that would captivate enthusiasts once again.
Under Henderson's leadership, Ace Motor Corporation introduced the Ace Four,
featuring Henderson’s tried and true inline 4-cyl, a powerful 1,047 cc engine was
created, and carefully designed so as not to infringe on any of Schwinn’s patents.
Henderson's dedication to engineering excellence and performance shone through,
and the Ace Four garnered acclaim for its advanced features, including a
triple-speed transmission and a modern fork design.
William G. Henderson tragically perished on this day December 11, 1922, after colliding
with a delivery truck while testing a prototype ACE Sporting Solo. Henderson’s
impact on the motorcycle industry was profound. His commitment to engineering
excellence and innovation continues to be celebrated, with the motorcycles he
played a key role in designing becoming revered classics. Henderson's legacy
lives on in the spirit of motorcycle enthusiasts who appreciate the pioneering
contributions of this visionary figure in the early history of American
motorcycles.
Indian Motorcycle Corporation acquired Ace Motor Corporation in 1927.
When I was at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, one of the longest restorations we
had in the shop was an ACE. What an absolute cool bike, from me a
non-motorcycle guy. Remember to share this episode with your motorcycling
brothermen, check out all episodes current and past, long and short at
nodrivinggloves.com, now let’s get off our ass, and burn some gas, cause John
is OUT!
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A visionary and trailblazer in the early 20th-century motorcycle industry, William G. Henderson ,left an indelible mark with his contributions as the co-founder of Henderson Motorcycles and later as the founder of Ace Motor Corporation.
Born in 1886, in Scottland, Henderson's fascination with mechanical engineering manifested at an early age. His passion for innovation and machinery set the stage for a remarkable career that would shape the landscape of American motorcycles.
In 1911, Henderson, alongside his brother Tom, embarked on a journey that would define his legacy. Together, they founded the Henderson Motorcycle Company in Detroit, Michigan. The company quickly gained acclaim for producing powerful, reliable, and well-engineered motorcycles. Henderson's keen engineering acumen was evident in the inline four-cylinder inline engines that powered their motorcycles, setting them apart from the competition.
The pinnacle of Henderson's early career came with the introduction of the Henderson Model D, which featured a groundbreaking 1,301 cc engine. Launched in 1912, the Model D became an icon of American motorcycle design, admired for its speed and innovative features. Henderson Motorcycles established a reputation for excellence, earning the loyalty of riders who sought performance and quality.
Alan Bedell was on of those riders, on June 13, 1917 Bedwell traversed his Henderson from Los Angeles, California, to New York City, roughly 3300 miles in seven days, sixteen hours and fifteen minutes, breaking the record set by “Cannonball” Baker on an Indian Twin. Such a proud moment for the Henderson brothers that beer was free in Detroit that day. Despite their record breaking and endurance racing success, the industry was not without its challenges. In 1917, as the United States entered World War I, the government redirected manufacturing efforts toward the war. Henderson Motorcycles, like many other companies, shifted production to support the war effort by providing motorcycles for military use.
Henderson faced financial difficulties, and in 1917, the Henderson brothers sold their company to Ignaz Schwinn, the owner of Excelsior Motor Manufacturing & Supply Company. Despite parting ways with the company he co-founded, William G. Henderson's passion for motorcycles persisted.
Determined to make another mark on the industry, Henderson didn't stay on the sidelines for long. In 1919, he founded the Ace Motor Corporation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With a renewed commitment to innovation, Henderson set out to create motorcycles that would captivate enthusiasts once again.
Under Henderson's leadership, Ace Motor Corporation introduced the Ace Four, featuring Henderson’s tried and true inline 4-cyl, a powerful 1,047 cc engine was created, carefully design as not to infringe on any of Schwinn’s patents. Henderson's dedication to engineering excellence and performance shone through, and the Ace Four garnered acclaim for its advanced features, including a triple-speed transmission and a modern fork design.
William G. Henderson tragically perished on this day December 11, 1922, after colliding with a delivery truck while testing a prototype ACE Sporting Solo. Henderson’s impact on the motorcycle industry was profound. His commitment to engineering excellence and innovation continues to be celebrated, with the motorcycles he played a key role in designing becoming revered classics. Henderson's legacy lives on in the spirit of motorcycle enthusiasts who appreciate the pioneering contributions of this visionary figure in the early history of American motorcycles.
Indian Motorcycle Corporation acquired Ace Motor Corporation in 1927.
When I was at Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, one of the longest restorations we had in the shop was an ACE. What an absolute cool bike, from me a non-motorcycle guy. Remember to share this episode with your motorcycling brothermen, check out all episodes current and past, long and short at nodrivinggloves.com, now let’s get off our ass, and burn some gas, cause John is OUT!
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