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Pierce Bicycle Mega Thread + Serial Numbers

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Here are some more stolen Pierce serial numbers from 1895-1905 US newspapers. Found quite a few listed as stolen but only these were from ads that stated the model year. All other ads listed serial numbers and sometimes descriptive information but not a model year.

1895 7,453 Pierce - Model 1

1897 24,352 Pierce - Maroon

1897 34,352 Pierce

1898 46,957 Pierce - 22” Carmine color

1900 69,427 Pierce

1900 74,987 Pierce - Chainless, black

1903 101,192 Pierce - Racer

1905 119,___ Pierce


So are these numbers showing the year the newspaper was printed or are those years what the newspaper believed the year of the bike to be? It would be interesting to see a scan of the newspaper itself.

All of these numbers fit into the dating chart I put together within a year or two. As time goes on it should get more and more accurate. If anyone has any actual documentation on Pierce serial numbers, not "he said she said" then put it up.

1899 no higher than or ending at 52,000

1900 " 62,000
1901 " 72,000
1902 " 82,000
1903 " 92,000
1904 " 102,000
1905 " 112,000
1906 " 122,000
1907 " 132,000
1908 " 142,000
1909 " 152,000
1910 " 162,000
1911 " 172,000
1912 ending with 182,000
1913 " 192,000
1914 " 202,000
1915 " 212,000
1916 " 222,000
1917 " 232,000
1918 " 242,000
 
To answer gben's question above, below are Pierce Bicycle Serial Numbers (updated 06/29/2020) I have taken directly from period newspapers or publications.

Bold years, serial numbers and any details are from period references that specifically stated the model year of Pierce bicycle in the reference. Italic years are guesstimates either because they fell between two confirmed model year references or they were the highest serial number stolen by a certain date (ie. a 1905 model was probably not stolen in 1904). I also list any information about the specific Pierce that was stated in the reference. Dates stolen are either the actual date listed in the stolen ad or the date of the publication the reference was in. I stopped at 1909 for now as I have spent many hours on the internet and will get back to it some time in the future to find 1910 and later serial number references. No He Said, She Said statement being made here, just recording primary serial number references to add to the greater goal of helping to date Pierce Bicycles. And I don't even own a Pierce. Just find the research interesting.

1895 - 7,453 Model 1 (Stolen 06/19/1895)

1896 - 17,015 Pierce – Special (Stolen 07/16/1897)

1896 - 22,384 Pierce – black, 22” (Stolen 05/14/1897)

1897 - 24,352 Pierce - maroon (Stolen 11/12/1898)

1897 - 30,618 Pierce Racer (Stolen 08/01/1899)

1897 - 31,092 Pierce Special (Stolen 05/01/1899)

1897 - 33,453 Pierce (Stolen 10/07/1907)

1897 - 33,798 Pierce (Stolen 12/02/1897)

1897 - 34,352 Pierce (Stolen 11/15/1898)

43,375 Pierce (Stolen 06/14/1899)

1898 - 46,957 Pierce 22” Carmine color (Stolen 06/21/1898)

51,036 Pierce 22” Cushion frame (Stolen 08/02/1899)

56,907 Pierce Chainless, spring fork (Stolen 06/17/1902)

1900 - 69,427 Pierce (Stolen)

1900 - 69,762 Pierce Special 22” Cushion frame (eBay 06/23/2020)

1900 - 73,109 Pierce (Stolen 05/13/1904)

1900 - 73,441 Pierce 21” maroon/white rims (Stolen 10/03/1901)

1900 - 74,987 Pierce Chainless, black (Stolen)

76,100 Pierce Chainless cushion frame (Stolen 10/31/1903)

81,698 Pierce (Stolen 06/19/1903)

83,827 Pierce, cushion frame, maroon, 22” (Stolen)

85,551 Pierce Chainless (Stolen 08/05/1904)

86,986 Pierce (Stolen 04/26/1904)

87,867 Pierce (Stolen 05/05/1903)

90,719 Pierce (Stolen 02/17/1910)

91,212 Pierce light blue/silver bronze rims (Stolen 04/20/1902)

1902 - 92,503 Pierce Chainless (Stolen 11/18/1902)

94,090 Pierce Chainless, cushion frame (CABE)

94,940 Pierce Chainless, coaster brake (Stolen 06/29/1905)

95,076 Pierce Chainless (Stolen 09/24/1905)

95,503 Pierce (Stolen 03/18/1903)

100,072 Pierce (Stolen 02/17/1904)

101,046 Pierce (Stolen 06/02/1909)

1903 - 101,192 Pierce Racer (Stolen 09/23/1903)

101,854 Pierce, 24” (Stolen 06/10/1905)

102,322 Pierce (Stolen 07/14/1906)

104,374 Pierce – nickel fork, cushion frame, 24” (Stolen 10/03/1907)

104,887 Pierce, black (Stolen 04/06/1904)

106,068 Pierce (Stolen 10/30/1903)

1903 - 106,430 Pierce Chainless, cushion frame, spring fork 25” (Stolen 09/02/1903)

106,497 Pierce – chainless, spring fork (Stolen 01/08/1906)

110,760 Pierce, black (Stolen 04/17/1904)

111,108 Pierce, cushion frame, spring fork, coaster (Stolen 06/10/1905)

111,277 Pierce (Stolen 04/18/1904)

111,435 Pierce – spring fork, cushion frame 22” (Stolen 05/10/1906)

111,733 Pierce (Stolen 09/06/1904)

115,254 Pierce – spring fork, cushion frame, coaster (Stolen 07/20/1907)

1904 - 115,345 Pierce (Stolen 12/04/1904)

116,365 Pierce (Stolen 06/29/1907)

116,441 Pierce (Stolen 10/12/1909)

116,718 Pierce – rigid, old red paint (Stolen 10/01/1907)

117,290 Pierce (Stolen 08/17/1905)

117,518 Pierce – roadster (Stolen 09/28/1907)

118,496 Pierce, men (Stolen 06/14/1906)

118,531 Pierce – red (Stolen 05/20/1906)

1905 - 119,___ Pierce (Stolen 03/30/1905)

119,588 Pierce – cushion frame, coaster (Stolen 05/20/1907)

120,128 Pierce – spring fork, cushion frame (Stolen 05/14/1908)

120,515 Pierce (Stolen 07/31/1906)

121,614 Pierce (Found 05/02/1908)

122,316 Pierce – Racer – red (Stolen 07/27/1909)

123,095 Pierce (Stolen 12/07/1908)

123,220 Pierce – spring fork, cushion frame (Stolen 02/26/1907)

123,446 Pierce – spring fork, cushion frame, black (Stolen 11/12/1908)

123,761 Pierce – spring fork, cushion frame (Stolen 01/21/1908)

1906 - 124,393 Pierce – racer, red, nickel fork (Stolen 07/13/1906)

126,799 Pierce (Stolen 08/15/1910)

128,083 Pierce (Stolen 11/24/1907)

128,480 Pierce (Stolen 10/09/1907)

128,491 Pierce (Stolen 05/10/1908)

128,506 Pierce – black (Stolen 05/29/1908)

128,552 Pierce – red (Stolen 04/28/1909)

1907 - 129,918 Pierce – coaster brake, red (Stolen 12/22/1907)

130,734 Pierce – red (Stolen 11/10/1908)

1908 - 135,115 Pierce – red, almost new (Stolen 07/03/1908)

135,296 Pierce (Stolen 08/28/1909)

137,104 Pierce (Stolen 01/01/1910)

137,464 Pierce – Racer – nickel forks, blue, new (Stolen 10/12/1909)

137,928 Pierce (Stolen 03/22/1909)

139,125 Pierce – Model 122 – nickel plated, 22” (Stolen 05/13/1908)

140,688 Pierce – Model 101 (Stolen 07/30/1908)

140,699 Pierce – Model 101 (Stolen 10/09/1909)

1908 - 142,548 Pierce (Stolen 12/07/1908)

142,982 Pierce (Stolen 06/20/1910)

143,650 Pierce – chainless, spring fork, cushion frame, blk (Stolen 07/19/1909)

1909 - 144,850 Pierce – maroon, 21” (Stolen 03/22/1910)

145,331 Pierce – red (Stolen 02/16/1910)

151,581 Pierce (Stolen 05/24/1910)


September 1895 Pierce said will build 15,000 bicycles for 1896
1899 estimated output was 8000
1898 cushion frame offered for first time
1899 chainless offered for first time
1901 chainless cushion frame was called Pan-American Special
1902 spring fork offered for first time


My Estimated Pierce Serial Number Range per Year based on numbers above

1895 8,000 (0-8,000)

1896 15,000 (8,001-23,000)

1897 15,000 (23,001-38,000)

1898 15,000 (38,001-53,000)

1899 15,000 (53,100-68,000)

1900 15,000 (68,001-83,000)

1901 7,000 (83,001-90,000)

1902 10,000 (90,001-100,000)

1903 10,000 (100,001-110,000)

1904 8,000 (110,001-118,000)

1905 5,000 (118,001-123,000)

1906 5,000 (123,001-128,000)

1907 7,000 (128,100-135,000)

1908 8,000 (135,001-143,000)

1909 7,000 (143,001-150,000)
 
Last edited:
. And I don't even own a Pierce. Just find the research interesting.

Well you should buy the one I have, apparently it is from around 1899-99. A nice original wall-hanger that I have just cleaned/packed the wheel, crank and headset bearings on and that is about it. Pretty sure it is a Model 122. I would just rather put the money into a newer bike I can ride every day hard than an old museum piece I can just look at. Just took this photo yesterday;

Pierce fall 2020 a.jpg
 
You don’t understand just how lightweight and fragile Christy saddles are, until you have one in your hands. I have a few of them, but would like to own the racing saddle and the adjustable types.
 
I think I have a Pierce in my alternate garage. I was looking at it today. I wasn't able to find any numbers on it. Old paint build up might be hiding the numbers. Since I looked here on this thread. It gives me clue to look at certain areas. I'll report back on my findings.
 
my friend sent me a link to this auction.
the seller can’t find the serial number but says it’s a pierce.
He was able to make out New Departure on the brake arm.
Any idea roughly when it was made?

1439744
 
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