1922 Ace Four
“Loaned” by Jerry Ottaway

In 1919, the Henderson brothers, William and Tom, sold their financially troubled Detroit based Henderson Motorcycle Company to Ignatz Schwinn, maker of the Excelsior motorcycle as well as the bicycles that bore his name. The Henderson continued production, but William and Tom soon became disenchanted with the changes made by the Excelsior concern, so left that company and formed a new one in Philadelphia, and the fabulous Ace was born. In 1922 The Ace was an overhead inlet, side exhaust type like the old Detroit Henderson, but was totally redesigned. They were light, and fast. Jerry’s bike is finished in deep blue, with gold striping, lots of shiny nickel, and is topped off by the gas tank emblem, which is an eagle in flight with the letters ACE in gold. It’s a very striking machine. Unfortunately, William Henderson was killed testing a new Ace in 1922, but that didn’t stop the Company from making a spectacular if brief mark on the motorcycling public of the day. It was “The World's Fastest Motorcycle”. Rumors were circulated that the Ace Motorcycle Company would wager $1000 in cash to anyone who could beat an Ace in a straightaway speed run. To back this up, Red Wolverton rode a specially prepared Ace at 134-mph solo, and rode a similar sidecar equipped one at 108mph- pretty heady stuff for 1923! Alas, the company was in dire financial straight by 1924 and soon folded. After an attempt to get it going again, and a few more bikes being built, the remains of the company were sold to Indian, and the Ace evolved into the Indian four. The first Indian Ace was basically an Ace, but with the first change, (to Indian forks and fenders) 75 pounds was added, and gradually the bike became a massive cruiser with skirted fenders, a far cry from the sporty bike built in the Ace factory.

Impressions from the Saddle
I have ridden all the American fours, but the Ace is the one that appeals most to me. It is light, and low by comparison. To start the bike, you choke the Schebler carb by pulling its choke knob, locking it into position, and giving the left-hand kickstart one or two gentle prods and its soon purring smoothly. The throttle is on the right, and the spark is on the left. “Suicide” foot clutch is on the left, and rear brake is on the right. Like other American machines of the era, it is devoid of any front stopper, although the one I rode had an auxiliary rear brake on the left. Both brakes are almost useless, so forethought is required! A similar one to hold down the clutch pedal if required accompanies the tank mounted shift lever on the left. Smooth sailing is the order of the day with the Ace, and the tearing canvas sound of the exhaust is a treat, particularly when you open the cut out. I’d like an Ace.

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