Name/Title
Pierce Great Arrow 1905Description
George Pierce had been making things in Buffalo, New York since the latter years of the Civil War. Starting with housewares which were in good demand during the country's westward expansion following the Civil War, he started the George N. Pierce Company in 1878, which soon diversified into iceboxes and birdcages.
A few years later, Pierce's company began building bicycles, then they discovered the next great commercial opportunity, the horseless carriage. The company thereupon undertook a careful process of investigation and development, starting with steam power, then gasoline, scientifically and logically evaluating the advantages of both sources of motive power. Pierce's decision became clear in January 1901, when David Fergusson was hired to head the Company's gasoline-powered automobile design efforts. The first Fergusson-designed, de Dion-powered Pierce Motorettes were produced later that same year. Notably, Pierce's many bicycle dealers provided an instant distribution network, of which few other early automobile manufacturers could boast.
Two-seat Motorettes and four-seat Stanhopes, with ever-larger single-cylinder engines, soon led to the first true four-seat Pierce in early 1903, complete with two-cylinder power and shaft drive, called the "Arrow". A year later, a larger, more conventional looking, four-cylinder "Great Arrow", succeeded it. Together, the Arrow and Great Arrow are best known for their five years of success in the Glidden Tours beginning in 1905, where they achieved perfect scores during four of those years.
The company's success, however, brought the need for more capital, much of it supplied by company director George K. Birge. The growing influence of Birge and other investors created friction with George and Percy Pierce, and in 1908, they left the automobile business to concentrate on bicycles and motorcycles. Meanwhile, the automobile business, acknowledging the strong reputation now associated with the Arrow name, was renamed the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company.
This car was part of the Dr. Samuel Scher sale to Richard Paine sale in 1965/66 and described by Scher as National First Prize Winner Automobile Show in New York Coliseum," and "Only known car in existence of this model."
Engine/Serial number is 1294. 1905 numbers went from 1276 to1302 making this the 18th Pierce Great Arrow to be built.
Pierce Great Arrow 8 passenger "Opera Coach" (limousine) with a tan over brown body, Wood spoked wheels, brass trim and lighting and a brown leather interior with carpeting in the rear.