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Pierce Bicycle Mega Thread + Serial Numbers

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wasp3245

Look Ma, No Hands!
Hello Pierce People

Over the years many posts have been done about Pierce bicycles ...has any one gathered serial numbers to more accurately date them ?

On the Wheelmen web site Dave Toppin has begun the gather serial numbers ..please link

http://www.thewheelmen.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2032

Pierce had many model numbers over the years , different model for each size frame, changing each year ( at least in the 1898-1904 period ) some machines have decals with model numbers on the slope tube up near the head ..... if a few original machines are out there with model numbers and serial #'s building a timeline of production will come together rather quickly ...
in later years Pierce seemed to use the same model number for many years ..

Pierce began bicycle production in 1891
Cushion frame with leaf spring 1898-1902
1898 seamless joints on all models prior years visible joints
Chainless production starts 1900
Front spring fork starts 1902
1906 Pierce Cycle Co is formed nameplate change
1918 Emblem buys Pierce Cycle assets ... Name plates now change to Angola production continues to 1940


If any one has catalogs in the 1905-1914 range, they would be a great help to help pin point model changes .

At the Wheelmen link you can find Dave's link for the 1899 and 1900 Pierce catalogs


Here are a few photos of Racer # 165509 with Pierce Cycle Co nameplate model 110 .... after 1906 before 1918


drop out serial 165509.jpg
front angle.jpg


head badge.jpg


drop out serial 165509.jpg


front angle.jpg


head badge.jpg
 
Yes I agree - I think this is a nut we should be able to crack to a degree. I posted the Chart - I will do it below again...It may or may not be accurate. Part of the point of this thread. I have asked on the wheelman site for more specific info from Dave Toppin. But we should be able to come up with additional info so to speak.

My Serial number of this one is located by the seat stem and is 135320

Pierce badge info 1.jpg


Pierce badge info.jpg


Screen Shot 2015-03-28 at 11.47.49.jpg


1904 spring choices

Screen Shot 2015-01-09 at 23.20.15.png


Pierce badge info 1.jpg


Pierce badge info.jpg


Screen Shot 2015-03-28 at 11.47.49.jpg


Screen Shot 2015-01-09 at 23.20.15.png
 
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Here is what we have so far......

Pierce serial numbers

55972 Special Man's c1898 - Collected by Dave Toppin
57365 Special Model 344 Chain driven cushion ( Flat Spring by Crank ) - Shawn - believed to be 1901/2….the cabe
60292 Racer Man’s - Collected by Dave Toppin
61758 ( stamped on Seat tube ) Tom ( Tommydale1950) The cabe
76088 Men’s Chainless - ( Jeff Powell ) Cushion frame, spring forks (no shackles), New Departure/P&F Corbin coaster brake, Christy saddleBadge: The Geo. N. Pierce Co., Buffalo
85410 Men's Chainless - Hygienic Cushion frame - No springer fork ( Mikeymike ) the Cabe
86133 Cushion Chain Driven - Thought to be 1901 ( Richard Smith )
87605 Cushion Shaft Drive ( Richard Smith )
96665 Ladies Chainless ( Jeff Powell ) Cushion frame, Spring forks w/shackles, Pierce New Departure coaster brake, Christy saddle
Badge: The Geo. N. Pierce Co., Buffalo
106877 Cushion Shaft Drive ( Richard Smith )
106877 Chainless Men’s - collected by David Toppin - Again not sure if he is referring to Richards bike
135320 Cushion Chain driven model - believed to be a 1903/4? ( Will Cress ) Stamped on Seat tube
135320 Chainless - collected by David Toppin…Not sure if he is referring to Will’s or if this is another Model?
152026 Chain Driven - LuxLow Stamped on Dropout
165302 Man's c1900 ….collected by David Toppin
165509 - Model 110 Special Racer ( Carey Williams ) stamped on dropout
165509 Special Racer Man’s ..Collected by David Toppin - not sure if he is referring to Carey’s bike
166682 Model 121. Pierce Cycle Co, Buffalo badge. ( dfa252 ) stamped on dropout

170381 Racer Badge is Pierce Cycle Co., Buffalo ( Jeff Powell )
180173 Chain driven , Pace bike with Lap bell - type 4 Buffalo badge ( Gary - Gkeep ) The cabe
185513 ( stamped on drop out ) Tom ( Tommydale1950) The cabe
256237 Pierce SBBR ( Carlitos ) considered to be a 1922 model
 
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Just in Case,,,,My 1922 PIERCE SBRR Serial # 2 56237
I Think that the First 2 Means the Year???

Sorry, I Was Unable to Post Picture!!
 
How about you chainless Pierce owners........ there have to be more Pierce guys than this on the cabe.
 
Here's my Pierce Cycle Company (badge type#4) project. Serial #180173. Thanks for starting this, great idea.
Pierce Serial Number.jpg

PierceHeadbadge.jpg

Pierce.jpg

Sorry for the small image, can't figure out how to delete it.
Gary
 
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Could the first two numbers be the year?

Carlitos, you may be on to the code. Could the 18 in my serial number #180173 be 1918, built in Buffalo? Could the serial number system have changed when the company reorganized and the name was changed in 1908?

Is that a Victorian cast door bell on the back mounted under the seat? How is it mounted and used? I have a nice cast door bell in the same style, it would make a cool bike bell.

Gary
 
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