This 1911 Pierce Four is a remarkable motorcycle. The Pierce-Arrow Motorcycle Company only made 500 Fours. (Picture courtesy Pierce Cycles). In 1903 the Pierce Stanhope was also introduced with the engine mounted under the driver’s seat. The first Pierce Fours of 1909 had no clutch and a single speed, but by 1910 a 2-speed transmission and clutch were added. Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong. This bike is coming up for sale by Mecum Auctions at their Las Vegas auction to be held from January 21-26, 2020. The most notable competitor to the Pierce Arrow Four was the Henderson Four while the bikes from companies such as Harley-Davidson and Indian Motocycle were also less expensive and thus attractive to buyers. By 1906 the Pierce Cycle Company would separate from the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company and be led by George N. Pierce’s son, Percy. By the 1890’s the advantages of machines over the use of animal power was starting to be appreciated. The company became well known for the household items they made, especially the refrigerators, and in 1872 Pierce bought out Heinz and Munschauer and renamed the business George N. Pierce Company. Pierce Arrow. The model is included in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Classic Bikes and Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.Touting its inline-four engine as "vibrationless", Pierce sold the motorcycle for $325, rising to $400 by 1913, which was expensive at the time, making it popular with "more prosperous sportsmen". The finished width of this C section mudguard / … More listings are added daily. A Horse or mule has a mind of its own and if it decides not to do what you want then you are in trouble, just ask Yosemite Sam. The 275-pound machine has a top speed of … black 1909 Pierce-Arrow Motorcycle for sale located in Providence, Rhode Island - $150,000 (ClassicCars.com ID CC-959166). Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company was an American automobile brand that made luxury vehicles at par with Rolls-Royce. The Early Years; The Glidden Tour Years; The War Years; Roaring Twenties; Record Breaking Years; Pierce-Arrow Bicycles; Pierce-Arrow Motorcycles; Pierce-Arrow Trucks; Notable Pierce-Arrow Owners; Advertising Gallery. For example they manufacture the current production Winchester Model 70 rifles and these are made to the most exacting quality control standards possible. (Picture courtesy RM Sotheby’s). George Pierce sold all his rights in his company in 1907, shortly after the new factory had been built. If you’ve never had a frightened horse bolt with you on its back you’ve missed one of life’s memorable experiences. An extraordinary 109-year-old motorcycle that looks new but has never been restored, has sold at auction for US$225,500, setting a new world record price for a Pierce Arrow Four-cylinder motorcycle. The Pierce Four was the pet project of the son of Pierce-Arrow’s owner, George Pierce. The end came quickly, as the Pierce Motorcycle Company went bankrupt in 1914. The 275-pound machine was good for 60 MPH, which was excellent performance at that date, and it was America’s first 4-cylinder motorcycle. This bike is coming up for sale by Mecum Auctions at their Las Vegas auction to be held from January 21-26, 2020. The other notable development was the “Chainless” bicycle which used a shaft drive instead of a conventional chain. The engine was used as a structural member which eliminated the need for a bottom support tube and served to make the motorcycle lighter. inline four cylinder engine shaft drive motorcycles. With the rising popularity of bicycles George Norman Pierce decided to go into the bicycle manufacturing business and in 1891 published his first catalog. You will email instantly after completing purchase. (Picture courtesy Mecum Auctions). (Picture courtesy Mecum Auctions). He was particularly interested in the Fabrique Nationale (FN) motorcycles of that period. This 1909 Pierce Four is a remarkable motorcycle. Pierce Arrow classic motorcycle The story goes Percy Pierce, the son of the owner of the Pierce Great Arrow Motor Company in Buffalo, was visiting Europe in 1908 and was so impressed by the FN four that he brought one back with him. A horse or a mule might have great strength but it requires feeding, grooming and training. The gearlever for the two speed gearbox was mounted to the left of the frame. The Pierce Arrow Four was a sleek looking and beautifully made motorcycle. It is a true gem of the American motorcycle industry. This approach was reflected in the quality, and cost, of the Pierce motorcycle and would ultimately lead to its downfall. The Pierce engineers made significant improvements, and the Pierce Four was ready for customers in 1909. The Pierce Arrow used a shaft drive to deliver engine power to the rear wheel, but it was fitted with a bicycle type chain drive to transmit pedal power to the rear wheel also so the bike could be propelled up to a speed that would enable the engine to be started, and also to operate the Coaster brake. A remarkable, rare and historic motorcycle, it exists as one of fewer than 500 Pierce Fours produced between 1909-1914, and, as probably the best example in the world, it … (Picture courtesy Pierce). Around the time Percy Pierce made his trek across the Atlantic FN were famous for their inline four cylinder engine shaft drive motorcycles, and this was the design concept that Percy most favored. The side-valve inline-4 engine was an upgraded Belgian design. Press alt + / to open this menu. in.). He has studied the Japanese sword arts and has a long history of involvement in the shooting sports, which has included authoring submissions to government on various firearms related issues and assisting in the design and establishment of shooting ranges. in.) You find yourself galloping at “Kentucky Derby” speed with no way of stopping other than to hang on for dear life and speak nicely to the panicked horse until it decides to stop running. (Picture courtesy Mecum Auctions). The Pick of the Day is a handsome example of the first year of production, a 1909 Pierce Four, made by Pierce-Arrow’s fledgling motorcycle division. By 1901 Pierce offered both a Morrow and a New Departure coaster brake. The Pierce cycle was the first inline four-cylinder motorcycle made in America. Accessibility Help. In 1910 that transmission was improved to a two speed sliding gear gearbox with a clutch and shaft drive. View this post on Instagram "An Art Moderne monument and a symbol of the streamlined age" . Pierce Arrow Gold All New Show, Same Great Tradition. The single was capable of a top speed of 55 mph so it was almost as fast as the Four and sold for USD$250.00, so it was much less expensive but quality was kept at the same high level of all Pierce products. That was not sustainable, and Pierce-Arrow closed its motorcycle division in 1914. The Pierce Arrow Manufacturing Company began to build motorcycles in 1907. The first model in 1909 had a single speed and no clutch, with a shaft drive to the rear wheel, just like the Pierce Chainless bicycle. Anybody who knows anything about vintage cars knows about Pierce-Arrow, a premier maker of luxury automobiles through the 1930s. Not only were the economics of production for the Pierce Arrow Four troublesome but competition from other motorcycle manufacturers was also telling. So, it’s hard to dispute the lofty asking price of $150,000, which puts it still in the realm of wealthy enthusiasts. 1925 Pierce Arrow Series 80 CoachThis Pierce Arrow is a 5-passenger coach and is in verygood condition.This classic from the 20's was developed for... More Add to Favorites More PRODUCT DETAILS. The Pierce engineers made significant improvements, and the Pierce Four was ready for customers in 1909. (Picture courtesy Pierce Cycles). Neighborhood surroundings, within walking distance, include Historic Olmstead's Delaware Park, Buffalo Historical Museum, State University College at Buffalo & world renowned Albright-Knox Art Gallery. See more of Vintage Motorcycle Magazine on Facebook. This 1909 Pierce Four is a remarkable motorcycle. While in Europe he purchased an FN four cylinder motorcycle and brought it back to the United States for his engineering team to use as inspiration. PIerce Chainless Cushion Frame bicycles. The Pierce Arrow Single was made as a lower cost alternative to the Pierce Arrow Four. George Pierce had famous architect Albert Kahn design his new Pierce Arrow Factory Complex at Elmwood Avenue and Great Arrow Avenue leaving Percy in charge of the original bicycle factory which from then on operated as the Pierce Cycle Company. This fender is made from drawings of an original 1911 model. Topping all motorcycle sales in Indy was a highly original 1911 Pierce Arrow Four. Then in 1910 George Pierce passed away leaving Percy without his father’s advice and support. 1912 Pierce Arrow Motorcycle Downloadable Electronic jpeg Image 3X, Currently On Display at Museum. But as expensive as they were to buy, they were even more expensive to produce, so that the company lost money on every one sold. Despite Pierce Arrow Motorcycles producing a much less expensive model sales were insufficient to keep the company solvent and by 1914 Pierce could continue no longer and was closed down. The very next year, the Pierce Motorcycle Company was established in 1909 as a subsidiary of the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Co. The quality was very high and, just as in the Four, the engine was used as a stressed member. The company progressed onto automobiles in 1901 with the Pierce Motorette and later Great Arrow models and branched out into motorcycles in 1907 when they started a separate Pierce Cycle Company, led by Percy Pierce, son of the company's president. These were expensive motorcycles, directed at the same wealthy buyers of Pierce-Arrow automobiles. So when the bicycle was invented people started to realize the advantages of having a compact machine that would get you places just as quickly as a horse or mule: a machine that did not need feeding, never got sick, and did not have a mind of its own with an independent will. Pierce-Arrow History. (Picture courtesy Mecum Auctions). (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright © 2019 Revivaler. Pierce Arrow Commerce Park, located in North Buffalo on the former site of Buffalo’s historic & world famous Pierce Arrow Motor Car Factory. Percy Pierce was inspired by the overall concept of the FN but he recognized that it was very much a work in progress and that he and his engineers could design a better motorcycle, in fact he was intending to build the best motorcycle in the world just as his father was intending to build the best automobiles in the world. Four years later the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company was launched, and the Pierce family ousted. The Pierce engineers designed an inline air cooled four cylinder engine which for the first model was a “T head” of 688cc capacity delivering 7hp. Jon Branch is the founder and senior editor of Revivaler and has written a significant number of articles for various publications including official Buying Guides for eBay, classic car articles for Hagerty, magazine articles for both the Australian Shooters Journal and the Australian Shooter, and he’s a long time contributor to Silodrome. The “T-head” four cylinder engine was first made with a capacity of 696cc (43 cu. Percy was making and selling his Pierce Arrow Four motorcycles priced at USD$350.00, which was very expensive at the time but which was actually below the cost of manufacturing them. As the 1890’s progressed Pierce introduced improvements to their bicycles with the “Cushion Frame” being one of the most important. In order to attract sales Pierce created a less expensive single cylinder motorcycle with a 5 hp engine of 592 cc. The forerunner of Pierce-Arrow was established in 1865 as Heinz, Pierce and Munschauer. 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