Reply To: Bicycle factory photos? Any out there?

[Brooks Brierley]

The cars and the bicycles were both made at the Hanover Street factory until 1906, when the new car factory was opened on Elmwood Avenue. Then, the car and cycles businesses were separated and only bicycles and motor cycles were made on Hanover Street. There remained some affiliation between the two companies, so you may find some Hanover Street factory photos listed under Pierce-Arrow. The Pierce-Arrow Collection at the University of Michigan has many early George N. Pierce Co. images – but I have never looked for Hanover Street factory photos and cannot say for sure. The Hanover Street site later became a Coast Guard Station; there may be some government photos of the building, too.

Geoffrey Stein, the New York State Museum senior historian, wrote a detailed history of the Pierce bicycle and cycle business for the Arrow, 10-12 years ago. It should also help with sources.