Henderson Model H

The Henderson Model H of 1918 was built in Chicago after Ignaz Schwinn bought the Henderson make in 1917 and moved its production to the works of the Excelsior Motor Manufacturing & Supply Company on Cortland Street. Manufacture of the model had been moved from Detroit, and the Chicago machines are told apart by engine serial numbers that begin with a Z instead of the older H. The Model H carried the Henderson in-line four-cylinder inlet-over-exhaust engine of 67 cubic inches (1,100 cc), with a bore of 2.53 inches and a stroke of 3.0 inches, a Schebler carburetor, magneto ignition and a three-speed transmission. It ran on Henderson spring forks, had a band brake on the rear wheel only and used 3.00 by 28 inch tyres at both ends. William and Tom Henderson both worked in management at Excelsior while it was built, and Tom left early in 1919 to become a Henderson exporter.