Pierce Arrow - Innovative Reliable But Not Strong Enough to Survive Economic Times
Its a sad tad of domestic American automotive industry history and folklore that the prestigious American luxury car line did not survive the test of time and economic times and trials.“.
Even with well established records and awards in motor-car endurance runs , and such innovative engineering and inventions as the Pierce-Arrow V-12 engine, economic trials – such as the Great Economic Depression of the 1930 the automobile firm and manufacturing concern was no match for major down auto buying markets. This is both a testament to the innovative nature of North Americans , their inventiveness and yet the powers of economics and auto market timing. Its a lesson we should all take to heart in 2012.
Origins of the Pierce-Arrow Company Itself:
The origins of the fine Pierce Arrow luxury automobile are as bizarre as any in motor manufacturing history. One George N. Pierce of Buffalo New York started in business in 1865 manufacturing unbelievably simple cages for birds and squirrels. He then moved on down the road , so to speak,to a new and much more profitable industry by translating and transforming his wire-forming skills into the manufacture of cycle spokes. Thus he progressed , down the highways of life, fortune and renown , step by step – to the building of complete shaft-cycle drives.
First Vehicles – Steam then Onwards to Gasoline Powered Engines:
From there , Pierce's cycle company enterprise stepped into uncharted territory in 1900, building an unsuccessful steam car actually engineered and designed by Overman. This was followed by a more successful De Dion-engineered quadricycle which had its role in fortune , in that it convinced Pierce that petrol ( gasoline) had a surer future than steam. In good step the next project out the shop door was the first production “Pierce “ - in the form of the diminutive De Dion-engineered “Morette”.
This was actually designed by a Yorkshireman David Fergusson , who had arrived in the US in 1899 as part of the entourage of the “motor charlatan” , E.J. Pennington, returning to base after a more than concerted attempt to stitch up the infant British motor industry.
Early “Arrow” & “Great Arrow” Cars:
The “Arrow” part of the company name first appeared in 2902 , on a 15 horsepower twin-cylinder vehicle. Next in 1904, Fergusson launched the 3770 cc 24/28 hp four cylinder “Great Arrow” , directly inspired by Mercedes, and joined the following year by the 28 / 32 and 40 / 45 Great Arrows.
Great Arrow Reliability Trials - “Glidden Tour Reliability Trials”:
The Pierce Company was moving steadily up-market, proving it credentials in winning the arduous 1000 miles “Glidden Tour reliability trial” unbelievably four times in succession. The first run was in 1904, when a 28 / 32 Great Arrow driven by George N. Pierce's own son Percy , scored 996 points out a possible 1,000.
Yet it Was the Downturn in Auto Buying of the 1930's That Did In Even Pierce Arrow Motorcars:
Even with this well earned reputation as a most solid and reliable automotive product and well earned name brand , when it came to the end of the road – it was simple economics and bad timing that did in this well respected American auto legend and brand. It was as simple as that.
Bob McMurray
McMurray lives to talk about cars. He is a well known fixture in the Edmonton automotive industry. Yet as Bob laments - new is not always better. We live in a throw away age he notes. Where we used to have real cars with solid metal now its all plastics with the likes of light weight yet fuel efficent cars and trucks and imports at the likes of South Korean & Japanese auto dealerships . Get out the can opener he says if you lock your keys in your economy car in Edmonton.
Its a sad tad of domestic American automotive industry history and folklore that the prestigious American luxury car line did not survive the test of time and economic times and trials.“.Even with well established records and awards in motor-car endurance runs , and such innovative engineering and inventions as the Pierce-Arrow V-12 engine, economic trials – such as the Great Economic Depression of the 1930 the automobile firm and manufacturing concern was no match for major down auto buying markets. This is both a testament to the innovative nature of North Americans , their inventiveness and yet the powers of economics and auto market timing. Its a lesson we should all take to heart in 2012.
Origins of the Pierce-Arrow Company Itself:
First Vehicles – Steam then Onwards to Gasoline Powered Engines:
From there , Pierce's cycle company enterprise stepped into uncharted territory in 1900, building an unsuccessful steam car actually engineered and designed by Overman. This was followed by a more successful De Dion-engineered quadricycle which had its role in fortune , in that it convinced Pierce that petrol ( gasoline) had a surer future than steam. In good step the next project out the shop door was the first production “Pierce “ - in the form of the diminutive De Dion-engineered “Morette”.
This was actually designed by a Yorkshireman David Fergusson , who had arrived in the US in 1899 as part of the entourage of the “motor charlatan” , E.J. Pennington, returning to base after a more than concerted attempt to stitch up the infant British motor industry.
Early “Arrow” & “Great Arrow” Cars:
Great Arrow Reliability Trials - “Glidden Tour Reliability Trials”:
The Pierce Company was moving steadily up-market, proving it credentials in winning the arduous 1000 miles “Glidden Tour reliability trial” unbelievably four times in succession. The first run was in 1904, when a 28 / 32 Great Arrow driven by George N. Pierce's own son Percy , scored 996 points out a possible 1,000.
Yet it Was the Downturn in Auto Buying of the 1930's That Did In Even Pierce Arrow Motorcars:
Even with this well earned reputation as a most solid and reliable automotive product and well earned name brand , when it came to the end of the road – it was simple economics and bad timing that did in this well respected American auto legend and brand. It was as simple as that.
Bob McMurray
McMurray lives to talk about cars. He is a well known fixture in the Edmonton automotive industry. Yet as Bob laments - new is not always better. We live in a throw away age he notes. Where we used to have real cars with solid metal now its all plastics with the likes of light weight yet fuel efficent cars and trucks and imports at the likes of South Korean & Japanese auto dealerships . Get out the can opener he says if you lock your keys in your economy car in Edmonton.
