Here at the museum, we've got a broad spectrum of All-American motorcycles ranging from Ace to Yale.  In the early days of American motorcycling, through the late 1910s, as many as 200 American motorcycle manufacturers were in business, provide their best machines for everyday people like you and me.  The Wheels Through Time Collection contains approximately 24 brands of motorcycle, including major manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Indian, and Excelsior, and several lesser known marques such as Merkel, Flescher Flyer, Wagoner, Elk, and Pierce to name a few.

During my forty plus years of collecting, one early machine stands out amonst its competitors.  The Henderson Four.  The Henderson Company began in 1912, with two brothers putting their heads together to create a motorcycle powered by a unique four-cylinder motor.  Named after the brothers, Henderson would immediately gain fame as powerful, reliable, and sophisticated machines, providing the ability to travel in style with an up-to-date, "modern" machine.  The machines were well capable of long distance travel, and could be fitted with tandem seats and sidecars so the whole family could ride.  

We've got several great Henderson's at the museum.  A particular favorite of mine is the 1913 Henderson Four.   The bike found Wheels Through Time in an interesting way -- starting with a phone call to the museum about a year and a half ago.  A friend of mine had located a 1913 four cylinder motor and had no use for it around his shop.  Imagining the possibilities, we made a quick deal and within a week, the motor was delivered.  Shortly after, I spoke with my friend Mike Smith, who had a perfect chassis available to match the machine.   One thing led to another and within two months, we had embarked on a new restoration project at the museum. 

When all the parts were at the museum, we mocked up the bike to make sure all parts fit correctly.  The motor was in perfect condition, and after it was bolted into the chassis, we strapped on a fuel tank, put in some new spark plugs and tried the impossible.   And what do you know -- it ran perfectly.  Now it was time to disassemble, send it out for paint, and start the final restoration process. 

After about a year, the bike began to take shape, and the parts on the table were getting fewer by the minute.  A couple of weeks ago, the assembly was complete, and the bike was ready for the road. 

It rode great.  At thirty miles and hour, the machine performed flawlessly, with smooth power throughout and hardly a vibration on the road.  It now sits in the museum foyer for all to enjoy. 

Among the other Henderson's at the museum sits one of my favorite machines in the collection -- a 1917 Henderson one-of-a-kind special.  The machine was originally built to break a 24-hour endurance record, during which rider Maldwyn Jones crashed the machine about 5 hours in.  The bike laid in a garage for almost eighty years and in mid 1995, I stumbled upon it at a swapmeet.   After a tedious restoration by my good friend Steve Huntzinger, we put on a few test miles and set out to rebreak a cross-country endurance record set in 1917 on a similar model.  The run went perfectly, and the record was broken by a total of 1 day and 7 hours.  Although we had a few advantages, such as paved roads and modern tires, the run was still one for the ages.  We raised $35,000 for Grand National Dirt Track Racing and had a heck of a time along the way!