Crocker Motorcycles
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (June 2009) |
The Crocker Motorcycle Company was an American manufacturer of single-cylinder speedway racing motorcycles from 1932, powerful V-twin road motorcycles from 1936, and the "Scootabout," one of the first modern styled motor scooters, in the late 1930s. Production ceased in 1942. In 1999 a new corporation was formed to manufacture replica parts, and now produces complete Crockers in kit form, following the original specifications.
Original Crocker company
Over 30 speedway motorcycles were produced before Al Crocker began work on creating a V-twin motorcycle. The first V-twin entry for Crocker had a 61 in³ (1,000 cc) "Hemi Head" producing 55-60 hp, exceeding the horsepower produced of both the Indian and Harley of the day (38-40 hp). Many Crockers were manufactured to order, with the 91+ cubic inch (about 1,491 cc)being the largest capacity production motorcycle of the time. When production ceased in 1942, approximately 100 of the V-twins had been produced in all. The remaining inventory of parts were sold in 1947 to Elmo Looper. Many of these parts went into restorations of the surviving examples, of which at least 68 exist today, according to a registry started by Charles "Chuck" Vernon and Johnny Eagles, two members of a group of original Crocker owners in Southern California. Although total production of all models is not known, it is thought by some to be around 200 units (about 40–50 speedway, 40–50 "Scootabout" scooters, and 100+ V-Twins). Al Crocker also produced an overhead valve conversion kit in the late 1920s for the Indian 101 "Scout".
The proprietor and founder of the company, Albert Crocker, ceased motorcycle production in 1942 when the war effort put a shortage on critical materials. Indian and Harley received contracts with the US Army for military motorcycle production and Crocker got a contract with Douglas Aircraft making aircraft parts. That became a more lucrative business than Al Crocker ever enjoyed with motorcycle manufacturing, and in 1942 Crocker Motorcycle became Crocker Manufacturing. Crocker later sold out to a company named Borg Warner. Al Crocker died in 1961. Designer of many of the components, Paul Bigsby, went on to fame as a designer of guitars and particularly of the Bigsby vibrato tailpiece.
Because of their rarity and quality, Crockers are among the most expensive motorcycles an enthusiast can acquire.[1] At the MidAmerica Auctions motorcycle auction in January 2007 in Las Vegas, a 1941 Crocker big tank motorcycle sold for $230,000. At the Gooding & Co. auction in 2006 in Chandler, a 1931 Crocker 61 sold for $236,500. At the Bonhams & Butterfield 2006 auction in New York, a 1937 Crocker "Hemi-head" V-Twin brought $276,500. At the 2006 auction of Bator International in California, a 1939 Crocker 61 cubic-inch side valve model sold for $200,000.
Crocker Motorcycle Company reincarnated
It had been over sixty years since the last Crocker rolled out of 1346 Venice Boulevard in Venice, California, before the New "Crocker Motorcycle Company"[2] first began (1997) to produce parts. After an enthusiastic response to the many high-quality parts produced for some of America's top restorers, and with inquiries from original Crocker owners, it was decided to officially incorporate the Crocker Motorcycle Company in January 1999. In early 2002 Crocker Motorcycle Company began to trademark Crocker worldwide; an aggressive stance was taken to accelerate their parts-making process, and the quest was on to create all the parts needed to assemble complete and exact reproductions of both the coveted "Big Tank" and the "Small Tank" models. The Web site was launched, and their market grew further still. Crocker's customer base has been global since the late 1990s.
Crocker Motorcycle Company produces parts that are exactly as the originals by incorporating "old school" pattern-making methods with ultra-modern measuring and machining technology. Crocker uses CMM (coordinate measuring machine) part measuring for quality control and in many cases CNC machining techniques to ensure the exactness of each part they make. Crocker's casting patterns are made by old-world craftsmen who have a dedication to making things correctly rather than quickly. To ensure a strict quality control, Crocker has created an extensive library of Cad-Cam engineering drawings for every part they produce.[3] All Crocker parts are made in the USA. this is false criminal charges have been filed for embezzlement against Michael Scacht
Since late 2008, after relocating to southern California, Crocker Motorcycle Company has been busy refining all their engineering, tooling, metallurgy, and manufacturing techniques with the assistance of some of the best mold makers, engineers, and aerospace machine shops in the world. The end result is a stunning example of the Crocker Big and Small Tank motorcycles, visually identical to the originals, manufactured to the highest quality standards and winning the prestigious "Industry Award" at the Quail Motorcycle Gathering in Carmel, California, in 2012.
The company began taking orders for its very limited production in October 2012 and now builds complete and authentic original type Big and Small Tank Crocker motorcycles to customer specs as Crocker did back in 1936–1942.
References
- ^ Paul Garson (May–June 2008). "The Crocker Special". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
- ^ Contos (April 2007). "Crocker Rebirth". Crossroads Motorcycle Magazine (116): 21.
- ^ Margie Siegal (November–December 2007). "The New Crocker Motorcycle Company". Motorcycle Classics. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
External links
- Crocker Motorcycle Company Official Website.
- The Legend That Could Have Been, essay at International Star Riders Association website.
- The Crocker Motorcycle - Jay Leno's Garage