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Albert Crocker (1882 — 1961) was the founder of Crocker Motorcycles, and an inventor of many motorcycles, he had a substantial effect on the motorcycle and racing business. Crocker was born in 1882 and graduated from Armour Institute, part of Northwestern University, with an engineering degree. His first employment after university was with the Aurora Automatic Machine Company, where he worked in the motorcycle division, Thor Motorcycle, engineering new product. Even though he was an engineer, he loved motorcycles and racing. He competed in and won many endurance contests, riding the famous "White Thor". Image File history File links Information_icon. ... 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... An inventor is a person who creates new inventions, typically technical devices such as mechanical, electrical or software devices or methods. ... A motorcycle is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. ... Northwestern University is a private, coeducational, non-sectarian research university, located in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, U.S.. Northwesterns main campus is a 240-acre (970,000 m²) parcel in Evanston, along the shore of Lake Michigan. ...

While racing, he met Oscar Hedstrom and Charles Hendee the president and chief engineer at Indian Motorcycle of Springfield, Mass. A close friendship developed between Crocker, Hendee, and Hedstrom. That friendship evolved into a full-time position with Indian for Al Crocker. Nickname: City of Homes Motto: Official website: www. ...

Crocker's personal life was to be deeply affected by the 1911 incident in which racer Eddy Hasha was killed. Al Crocker met Eddy Hasha's widow, Gertrude Jefford Hasha, in 1919, while both worked at the Indian branch in Denver, Colorado. They married in 1924, and had one son. Also in 1924, Al took over the Indian dealership in Kansas City. The dealership functioned as distributor for several Mid-west states. When the west coast called Al Crocker, the Kansas city operation was sold to "Pop" Harding, whose two sons, Earl and Roy continued the business for many years. 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... This article refers to the state capital of Colorado. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Nickname: City of Fountains or Heart of America Location in Jackson, Clay, Platte, and Cass Counties in the state of Missouri. ...

After the sale, Crocker bought Freed, an established an Indian dealership. Al Crocker and Paul Bigsby must have spent many of their off hours designing and developing their own bikes, for in 1931, they turned the racing world on its ear when they introduced their dirt track racers. 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ...

Al, the very capable designer and engineer, had invented the Crocker 30-50 cu. in. single-cylinder speedway bike that was the bike of choice of many of the best riders on the Pacific coast when speedway racing was at its height. He ultimately built about thirty speedway bikes, and gave the big-name speedway bikes a lot of tough competition.

At the debut race, Al Crocker made a brief appearance. His quiet, down-to-earth personality is evident in the following coverage of the event.

In the mid-1930's Crocker and Bigsby began to realize another dream; to build a heavyweight, high performance, overhead valve, v-twin motorcycle. Al Crocker knew there was a good market for high-speed touring bikes, but even he was surprised that he had more orders than he could possibly fill for the Crocker Twin. This was definitely the best motorcycle produced in this country at that time. The great Crocker V-twin motorcycle of the 1930's was a stellar performer. "...on the road nothing else could catch it."

But as this was during recession years it became increasingly difficult to produce vehicles in small quantities. He later abandoned production of these machines. Many are still in existence and are of the most highly prized collectible motorcycles of today. Crocker parts are still sought after and coveted. The most recent, conservative estimate of the value of the original Crockers hovers between $225,000 and $300,000 U.S. in restored condition.