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Pierce 1903 - 1904

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filmonger

Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
In Memoriam
i have a question as to what would have been the correct saddle for this model and the correct pedals / bars / hubs?

I assume this is a 1904 rather than a 1903 based on the fork.....but then it could be a slightly newer based on this chart as it seems there is no correlation with the serial numbers - though, I bet we could fig it out if we tried hard enough ( serial number wise that is ). We kind of did the same with the racycle models. The Serial number in this one is located by the seat stem and is 135320. Guessing it is a buffalo model too ( up to 1907 ) but again I could be very wrong with this assumption.

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Pierce badge info.jpg

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Another cushioned frame! Was this Carlitos bike?
Accessories were a personal option; bars, seat and pedals...here's a chainless model
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Photo credit: 37Fleetwood
 
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Thank you fordsnake as always you are very informative!!!! Yes... this was Carlitos and will soon be mine - The seat is not correct for sure....I want to replace the bars with kelly bars - if this was correct for the year ( 1904 being the start of this range with this fork on offer according to the chart ). Most likely I will be selling the Major Taylor stem & Bars later. The pedals I have also look to be incorrect for the year - guessing Rattraps of some sort should have come with this one? The Pedals in the Picture above are very cool....I also am guessing the fork above had the Leather separator since I do not see metal shackles. I will be putting wood 700c rims with carbon inserts on the bike and would like to string the correct hubs to them if possible.

Does a Database with serial numbers exist for the Pierce bikes we all own?
 
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Unless you're doing a museum restoration, I wouldn't place so much concern on the accuracy of the accessories. There were are a multitude of manufacturers of parts in the late 1800's and early 1900's, and not all of them were well known-house-hold-names. Additionally, many parts were optional add-ons at the store by the dealer. You can't wrong with accessories pre 1900, just make sure the parts were available before and during the year of the bikes' manufacturing.

Here are few examples of parts from an 1898 accessories catalog. Many of them were seen on bikes as late as 1910.
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Unless you're doing a museum restoration, I wouldn't place so much concern on the accuracy of the accessories. There were are a multitude of manufacturers of parts in the late 1800's and early 1900's, and not all of them were well known-house-hold-names. Additionally, many parts were optional add-ons at the store by the dealer. You can't wrong with accessories pre 1900, just make sure the parts were available before and during the year of the bikes' manufacturing.

Here are few examples of parts from an 1898 accessories catalog. Many of them were seen on bikes as late as 1910.
Screen20Shot202015032820at2010063420AMpn-1.jpg

Screen20Shot202015032820at2010051020AMpn-1.jpg

Screen20Shot202015032820at2010240720AMpn-1.jpg

Screen20Shot202015032820at2010242220AMpn-1.jpg

More great info!
 
The cushion fork was first introduced in 1902! The articles states it was a standard feature only on the chainless models.
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Apparently it lasted a while, as spotted in a 1910 trade publication.
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That's not correct. I have a copy of the 1902 catalog which shows both regular and Special models (chain drive) with the spring fork (cushion frame models). I have a 1902. Filmongers bike is at least a 1903 based on the articulated bottom bracket. The '02 has a flat spring similar to a FloCycle between the BB and the chain stays. V/r Shawn
 
Yes - I would say 1904 or later based on the shackled fork - if it had had the leather separator rather than shackles ( as you can see in the matrix then it could have been a 1902, 03 ) therefore it must be 1904 or later.... that is if the matrix is correct. What serial number is yours Freqman1? Pelletman's scan's are interesting with the 1899 and 1900 cat - but it would be nice to find a 1904 or 1905 cat.

http://s99.photobucket.com/user/pel...icycles 1900/Untitled-22.jpg.html?sort=3&o=11
 
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