Henderson made in-line 4-cylinder motorcycles from 1912 until 1931.
They were the largest and fastest motorcycles of their time, and appealed to both sport riders and police departments.
Police favored them for traffic patrol because they were faster than anything else on the roads.
The company began during the golden age of motorcycling, and ended during the Great Depression
(Another Willie G... that's noteworthy)
Two years later, in 1899, his grandson William Henderson came to work as a designer and draftsman at the factory, helping develop the Winton during its meteoric rise.
Carl Stearns Clancy became the first person to ride around the world on a motorcycle, and he did it aboard a Henderson. The press took note. Riders took notice. Dealers couldn't keep up with demand. The Model B improved braking. The Model C added a two-speed hub. The Model F came with a kick-starter and a tighter wheelbase for nimbleness. Year by year, Henderson machines got better, faster, and smarter.
In 1917, as America entered the Great War and industry shifted gears, the Henderson brothers sold their company to Ignaz Schwinn, the bicycle baron behind one of America's most successful "Big Three" motorcycle manufacturers, Excelsior. Production moved to Chicago, and the bikes were branded Excelsior-Henderson. For a time, it was a golden partnership. William Henderson stayed on as a chief engineer
In praise of Grandpa. Alexander Winton produced automobiles with self starters when there was no electric self starter. He made air starters, such as are used on locomotives, just a lot smaller. Thus a lady, who could afford a Winton, did not have to crank t engine manually. Alexander began to lose interest in the automobile business and by 1942, the last Winton automobiles were produced,. By 1913, he took an interest in the Diesel engine, which is the year that Dr. Diesel came from France to promote his engine. Alexander founded Winton Diesel. He died in 1932 at age 70. The company name was changed to Cleveland Diesel. Alexander Winton lives on because in 1934, the first American locomotive powered by a Diesel-Electric system was powered by The Cleveland Diesel. It pulled six passenger cars from Denver to Chicago, consuming a mere $13.65 in fuel. No fireman was needed, no water was needed every few hundred miles and the train continued its journey. Alexander Winton is the man who caused the demise of steam locomotion in America.
ReplyDeleteI was just noodling around to post the foundation of the Henderson motorcycle, and that their grandfather was Winton, and figured I'd fill in a little this and that for a well rounded post, but didn't see anything in the places I looked at about the air starter! Well, dang! That RARELY ever comes up ANYWHERE that the thing existed, and I've never researched into the air starter... though, crazy enough coincidence, I posted a car with an air starter on top of the front bumper last week! Thanks!
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