 1922 Acme with a 293 cc JAP engine | |
| Industry | Motorcycle manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1902 inEarlsdon,Coventry, England |
| Defunct | 1922 |
| Fate | Merged withRex motorcycles |
| Successor | Rex-Acme |
TheAcme Motor Co is a defunct manufacturer of motorcycles that operated from premises inEarlsdon,Coventry. The company started manufacturing in 1902.[1][2] It was taken over byRex motorcycles sometime before 1920.[3] In 1922 the name of the company was changed toCoventry Acme Motor Co, later that year the company was merged with Rex motorcycles to formRex-Acme.[4][5]
The first motorcycles produced in 1902 usedMinerva engines. Models using 2.75hp and 4.5hpAutomoto 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. In1908 two machines were entered in theIsle 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 ofpatents, including one for asprung frame in 1916.[3]
After a break during theFirst World War production resumed in 1918 under managing director George Henry Hemingway. The post-war models used engines fromJAP and also Acme built 350 ccside-valvesingle and 997 ccV-twin engines.[6][7] A car was produced in limited numbers in 1919.[9]
In 1920 a 976 cc V-twincombination was introduced with 8hp JAP engine, a three-speedSturmey Archer gearbox, Brampton Biflexforks andchain drive. The engine was produced to Acme's specification with themagneto drive on the left to allow better access to theignition 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]