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Acme Motor Co

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This article is about the British motorcycle manufacturer. For similarly named manufactures, see Acme § Vehicles.
Acme Motor Co
IndustryMotorcycle manufacturer
Founded1902 in Earlsdon, Coventry, England
Defunct1922
FateMerged with Rex motorcycles
SuccessorRex-Acme

The Acme Motor Co is a defunct manufacturer of motorcycles that operated from premises in Earlsdon, Coventry. The company started manufacturing in 1902.[1][2] It was taken over by Rex motorcycles sometime before 1920.[3] In 1922 the name of the company was changed to Coventry Acme Motor Co, later that year the company was merged with Rex motorcycles to form Rex-Acme.[4][5]

History

Pre-WW1

The first motorcycles produced in 1902 used Minerva engines. Models using 2.75hp and 4.5hp Automoto engines were soon added, as was a 3hp model with an engine made by Acme.[6][7] From 1904 the Automoto engines were produced under license by Acme. In 1908 two machines were entered in the Isle of Man TT, but both retired on the first lap.[8] After this no further machines were entered into the TT Races.[7]

The company filed a number of patents, including one for a sprung frame in 1916.[3]

Post-WW1

After a break during the First World War production resumed in 1918 under managing director George Henry Hemingway. The post-war models used engines from JAP and also Acme built 350 cc side-valve single and 997 cc V-twin engines.[6][7] A car was produced in limited numbers in 1919.[9]

In 1920 a 976 cc V-twin combination was introduced with 8hp JAP engine, a three-speed Sturmey Archer gearbox, Brampton Biflex forks and chain drive. The engine was produced to Acme's specification with the magneto drive on the left to allow better access to the ignition points.[3] In 1921 a 2¾ hp single-cylinder machine with two gears was added. These later machines were almost identical to those produced by Rex motorcycles,[6][7] who by this time had taken over Acme.[3] The two companies merged in 1922 and Rex-Acme machines were produced until 1933.[10]

References

  1. ^ Henshaw, Peter (2004). The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle. Chartwell Books. ISBN 978-0-7858-1047-6.
  2. ^ Bacon, Roy (2004). The British motorcycle directory : over 1, 100 marques from 1888. Ramsbury: Crowood. ISBN 978-1-86126-674-3.
  3. ^ a b c d "Acme 1920 8hp 1000 cc 2 cyl sv". Yesterdays. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  4. ^ Kimberley, Damien (2009). Coventry's motorcycle heritage. Stroud: History. ISBN 978-0-7509-5125-8.
  5. ^ "British motorcycle manufacturers A". www.ianchadwick.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Acme Motor Co - Graces Guide". www.gracesguide.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d "rex-acme". www.dogdragons.com. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  8. ^ Isle of Man Weekly Times Page 2 Saturday 26 September 1908 Vol LXV No 2,926
  9. ^ The Times, 13 April 1996
  10. ^ "British Motorcycle Charitable Trust". Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
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