General Information

Serial #

1588

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

TUBULAR STEEL FRAME/ CAST METAL CRANKCASE TOP/ METAL PARTS/ LEATHER SEAT/ GLASS HEADLIGHT LENSES/ RUBBER TIRES, HANDGRIPS, FOOTREST PLATES

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

243.0 cm

Width

76.2 cm

Height

111.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Motorized Ground Transportation

Category

Motorcycle vehicles

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

EXCELSIOR

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Illinois

City

Chicago

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Henderson produced 4-cylinder motorcycles from 1912 until 1931. They were the largest and fastest motorcycles of their time, and appealed to sport riders and police departments. Police favored them for traffic patrol because they were faster than anything on the roads. The company began during the golden age of motorcycling, and ended during the Great Depression. On Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the Wall Street stock market crashed, but Henderson sales remained strong, and business continued. At this point Excelsior Motor Mfg. & Supply Co. was one of America’s "Big Three" of motorcycle production, alongside Harley Davidson and Indian. In 1917 the Hendersons sold the firm to Ignaz Schwinn, owner of Schwinn, the manufacturer of Schwinn bicycles and Excelsior motorbikes.[9] Production was moved to Schwinn's Excelsior Motor Mfg. & Supply Co., 3701 Cortland Street, Chicago, Illinois.Hendersons were marketed extensively overseas as well as in the United States during the Schwinn years.

Function

GENERAL TRANSPORTATION

Technical

The Model K weighed more, produced more power, and was more durable and reliable than its predecessors. The 79.4 cubic inch (1301 cc) side-valve engine, with 2.6875 inch (68.3 mm) bore, and 3.5 inch (88.9 mm) stroke, was rated at 18 hp (28 bhp).[5] The K had a top speed of 80 mph (128 km/h). The Henderson Model K was the first motorcycle to use full pressure engine lubrication. It was also the first motorcycle to offer, an optional, reverse gear (for use with sidecars). The frame had steel forgings on every joint. Forks and handlebars were the same as the Series 20 Excelsior. Among its several advanced features were electric lighting and a fully enclosed chain. The K continued on sale to 1922, with sales increasing despite the post World War I depression. Increasingly, Henderson motorcycles were being used by law enforcement agencies, and their reputation continued to improve, with durability and distance records often falling to them.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

ALL INCISED INFO. IS ON LEFT SIDE OF MACHINE/ STAMPED INTO FRAME BELOW SEAT: `1588'/ STAMPED INTO MAGNETO BASE SHIM & BELOW KICK STARTER: `D21098C'/ INCAST RAISED FIGURES ON ENGINE CASE TOP, REAR, CENTER: `K1000/ W/ 10 8 25'/ IN CAST RAISED FIGURES ON GEAR CASE COVER: `K1300'/ DECAL ON BOTH SIDES OF FUEL TANK, LEFT SIDE WORN & PATIALLY OBSCURED BY GEAR SHIFT ASS. HAS LARGE GOLD TRIMMED RED `X' ROURMOUNTED BY BLACK EDGED GOLD WINGS WITH: `HENDERSON' IN CENTER IN RED, & ABOVE: `EXCELSIOR/ MOTOR/ MFG' & BELOW: `AND/ SUPPLY CO./ CHICAGO USA' IN B&W/ EXCELSIOR AUTOCYCLE DECAL ON FRONT FENDER/ `SCHWINN' DECAL ON FRONT FORKS

Missing

possible

Finish

FRAME, FRONT & REAR FORKS, ENGINE, HANDLE BARS, HEADLIGHT CASES ALL PAINTED BLACK/ FUEL TANK & FRONT & REAR FENDERS PAINTED DARK BLUE WITH GOLD TRIM/ BLACK SEAT/ WHEEL RIMS & SPOKES PAINTED CREAM

Decoration

DARK BLUE FENDERS HAVE GOLD STRIPES/ FUEL TANK HAS GOLD STRIP AROUND EDGE