Albert Crocker was born in 1882. In the early 1930s he founded the Los Angeles-based Crocker Motorcycle Company, which produced high-quality speedway race machines, heavyweight touring motorcycles, and scooters.
Crocker was trained as an engineer. Following engineering school he worked in Chicago with the Aurora Automatic Machine Company, the manufacturer of the Thor motorcycle, which he raced for the Thor factory. He next worked with the Indian Motocycle Company, and operated Indian dealerships in Kansas City, Mo., and Denver. In the late 1920s, he operated an Indian dealership in Los Angeles.
In the early 1930s Crocker and mechanic and pattern maker Paul Bigsby designed and produced single-cylinder speedway machines, which were highly acclaimed by racers of the day.
By the mid-1930s the Crocker Motorcycle Company had developed a new, 61 c.i. V-twin engine that delivered superior performance compared to other machines of the day. Anecdotes from the time claim the Crocker twin produced 60 horsepower and was capable of top speeds over 110 mph.
In the late 1930s Crocker also built the streamlined “Scootabout” scooter, but by 1942 the company had ceased motorcycle production due to the wartime economy and shortage of materials. Crocker went on to manufacture components for the World War II aviation effort in southern California.
Due to their unique qualities and limited production runs, original Crocker motorcycles are highly prized by collectors.
Crocker died in 1961. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.