Ace Motorcycle Company
The Ace Motorcycle Company began its existence in 1919, and continued until 1924. After 1924, Ace motorcycles were still produced but very intermittently.
Before opening Ace Motorcycles, William Henderson, had also owned Henderson Motorcycle, which he had sold to Excelsior Motor Manufacturing & Supply Co. Henderson stayed on as an employee until 1919, when he and Excelsior had some disagreements.
William Henderson then opened Ace Motorcycles in Pennsylvania at the corners of Erie Avenue and Sepviva Street. Being careful not to infringe on trademarks that he had sold to Excelsior, the new Ace Motorcycles looked almost identical to the original Henderson bikes.
William Henderson, while testing a prototype, was hit by another automobile and he died soon after. Arthur O. Lemon replaced Henderson as owner, as he had experience as the head of sales and also engineering for the Henderson division at Excelsior's.
Red Wolverton set a motorcycle speed record of 192 miles per hour on an Ace, only a year before the Ace Motorcycle Company would close its doors and stop production.
Ace Motorcycles changed ownership several times before being bought by the Michigan Motors Corporation, who revived production for a short time, and the Indian Motorcycle Company, who moved the Ace's production to Springfield Illinois, starting the production of the Indian Ace. The Indian Ace was a four cylinder motorcycle produced until 1942, when the Indian was redesigned and the Ace's name badge was dropped, and the Ace Motorcycle disappeared for ever.
If it were not for enthusiast of the Ace and other famous American motorcycle name badges, The Ace would be gone forever.
Original Authors: Nicholas
Edit Update Authors: RPN
Updated On: 11/06/2007
