1905? Pierce Racer project

[Pierce1905]

I am new to the antique bike world. I am working on a 1934 Pierce Arrow car and thought a Pierce Bicycle would be a great project to go along with the car when it is done. I purchased this Racer as a project with all the parts but I have no idea how to determine the authenticity of any of the components or where to get correct parts for these bikes.

Here are my questions:

1. Is there a color code for the Red used on these bikes? I know this bike was originally red.
2. Where do I located bearings and how do I identify that I order the right ones.
3. I have two sets of pedals, which set would have come originally on the bike?
4. I have spokes and hardware but some are bent, is there a source for those?
5. I have seen mixed responses on tires and tubes. How do I go about sourcing tires and tube package that will fit the original wood wheels?

 

[catfish]

I think the Angola badge is a lot newer than 1905. I believe 1905 would have been a Buffalo badge .

 

[Pierce1905]

I think the Angola badge is a lot newer than 1905. I believe 1905 would have been a Buffalo badge .

You are correct. I have a Buffalo Badge as well. The frame number would lead me to believe it is a 1905 or close to it.

 

[Freqman1]

So does the head tube have holes for the “Special Racer” tab?

 

[Pierce1905]

So does the head tube have holes for the “Special Racer” tab?

Yes it does

 

[gkeep]

If you hav'nt already read through the Pierce Serial number thread here is where you can take the deep dive into trying to determine the date of a Pierce based on the serial number. The most reliable source seems to be from folks research into stolen bike ads in contemporary newspapers that list a serial number. There aren't many bikes with clear connections to a manufacture date. https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/pierce-bicycle-mega-thread-serial-numbers.71746/.

Very few bikes have turned up with original paperwork to document the bikes existence at a particular year. There was a Pierce found a few years ago in Fresno California with records of it being rented from a business and the rental agreement has the serial number listed.
Post #383 in the Pierce thread, "a Pierce racer has been found at an estate sale in California with the serial number starting with 17, the bike actually came with the original documents (lease agreement) dated 1916 from a shop in Fresno CA. The documents are in a fragile state and need to be sent to a paper restoration company but as far as I'm aware, are the only original sales point documentation surviving that are still with the machine."

My Pierce has a serial #180173 on the dropout like yours, the head badge is a Buffalo badge, this serial number is one of the latest serial numbers before the sale of the company to Emblem. Once Emblem began producing the bikes the badge was changed to reflect the move to Angola so those bikes are 1917-18 ish. This red color was refered to as carmine.

Best of luck with your project!

 

[Blue Streak]

Based on Pierce serial numbers I have found so far I think your Serial Number 159064 is in the 1911-1913 range.

Here are some 1891-1918 dating references: