Pierce-Racine

Pierce-Racine was an early American automobile marque associated with the Pierce Engine Company of Racine, Wisconsin. The company originated in 1892, when Andrew J. Pierce organized the Racine Gas Engine Company. Its initial business centered on stationary and marine engines rather than automobiles, and it also built lake launches to order for use with its marine power units. This engineering background provided the company with experience in compact internal-combustion machinery before the automobile became its principal commercial focus. Pierce began experimenting with horseless carriages in 1895, initially motorizing a surrey. Development continued for several years, and in 1903 the company produced a small two-seat runabout in series for the Mitchell Motor Car Company, another Racine manufacturer. The following year, Pierce entered the automobile market under its own Pierce-Racine name. The first production car was a lightweight runabout powered by a one-cylinder engine producing approximately 8 horsepower. The marque broadened its range quickly. Two-cylinder cars were added in 1905, followed by a four-cylinder model in 1906. By March of that year, the catalog included the 12-horsepower Model A-3 runabout, two-cylinder light touring cars designated A-4 and B2, and the 24-horsepower four-cylinder Model C touring car. Prices ranged from $750 for the entry-level runabout to $1,750 for the larger touring model. Sales were supported by agents in New York and New England, indicating an effort to distribute the cars beyond the immediate Racine market. Beginning in 1907, Pierce-Racine simplified its offering around the Model D, a 40-horsepower automobile priced at $2,600. The Model D developed into the Model E, G, and H through 1909. These later cars used engines rated at as much as 45 horsepower, while the listed price for the 1909 model was approximately $2,000. The product evolution reflected a shift away from small runabouts toward larger and more powerful touring automobiles during the brass era. In 1909, the Pierce Engine Company was reorganized as the Pierce Motor Company with investment from interests connected with the J. I. Case Company. The new corporate structure did not preserve the Pierce-Racine marque as an independent automobile business for long. On August 4, 1910, the Pierce Motor Company was absorbed by the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company. The automobiles subsequently continued under the Case name rather than Pierce-Racine. Case automobiles remained in production until 1927, but the Pierce-Racine identity ended with the 1910 absorption. The marque is therefore significant primarily as a short-lived Wisconsin manufacturer that transitioned from engine production into automobiles and later became part of the Case automobile lineage.

The history of Pierce-Racine began with Andrew J. Pierce, who arrived in Racine, Wisconsin, in 1887. In 1892 he organized the Racine Gas Engine Company, which later became the Pierce Gas Engine Company and operated at 1952 Clark Street. The business initially concentrated on stationary and marine engines. It also accepted orders for lake launches designed to use the company’s marine engines, giving Pierce practical experience with propulsion systems before it entered the automotive field. In 1895, Pierce began experimenting with horseless carriages by fitting a motor to a surrey. The company continued its experiments through the late 1890s and early 1900s. In 1903 it produced a small two-seat runabout in series for the Mitchell Motor Car Company, located elsewhere in Racine. This project preceded the launch of Pierce’s own automobile marque. In 1904 the runabout was offered as a Pierce-Racine. It used a one-cylinder engine rated at approximately 8 horsepower and represented the company’s formal entry into automobile manufacturing. Pierce expanded its range in stages. Two-cylinder cars appeared in 1905, and the company added a four-cylinder automobile in 1906. Its March 1906 range included the 12-horsepower, two-cylinder Model A-3 runabout; the 14-horsepower A-4 light touring car; the 16-horsepower B2 light touring car; and the 24-horsepower, four-cylinder Model C touring car. Listed prices ran from $750 to $1,750. The company used agents outside Wisconsin, including Gantert & Paul in New York and the Butler Motor Car Company in Boston, suggesting that Pierce-Racine sought broader distribution through independent dealers. From 1907 onward, the product line was consolidated around the 40-horsepower Model D. The model cost $2,600 and represented a move toward larger, more expensive touring automobiles. The Model D was subsequently developed into the Model E, G, and H through 1909. The later versions reached approximately 45 horsepower and were listed at about $2,000 in 1909. These changes followed the broader brass-era market trend toward more capable touring cars, while the earlier runabout and light-car offerings became less central to the marque’s identity. The corporate structure changed in 1909. The Pierce Engine Company was reorganized as the Pierce Motor Company, with investment from J. I. Case Company interests. The reorganization was short-lived as an independent phase. On August 4, 1910, the Pierce Motor Company was absorbed by the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company. The Pierce-Racine automobile then became part of the Case automobile line. Case-branded automobiles continued to be manufactured until 1927, but the Pierce-Racine name itself disappeared after the 1910 absorption. The marque’s historical importance lies in its connection to Racine’s engine-manufacturing base, its brief progression from experimental runabouts to powerful touring cars, and its role in the early automobile activities that were incorporated into the Case automotive business.

• 1910

  Absorption into J. I. Case

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The Pierce Motor Company was absorbed by the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, ending the Pierce-Racine marque as an independent automobile identity.

• 1909

  Pierce Motor Company formed

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The Pierce Engine Company was reorganized as the Pierce Motor Company with investment from J. I. Case Company interests.

• 1907

  Model D becomes the principal offering

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Pierce-Racine moved toward a single 40-horsepower Model D automobile.

• 1906

  Four-model range documented

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  By March, the range included the A-3, A-4, B2, and four-cylinder Model C, covering runabout and touring-car formats.

• 1905

  Two-cylinder cars added

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Pierce-Racine expanded beyond its initial single-cylinder runabout with two-cylinder automobiles.

• 1904

  Pierce-Racine automobile production begins

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The company began selling its runabout under the Pierce-Racine name, marking its entry into automobile production.

• 1903

  Runabout produced for Mitchell

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  The company produced a small two-seat runabout in series for the Mitchell Motor Car Company.

• 1895

  Automobile experimentation begins

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Pierce began experimenting with horseless carriages by motorizing a surrey.

• 1892

  Racine Gas Engine Company organized

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Andrew J. Pierce organized the Racine Gas Engine Company, the predecessor of the later Pierce Engine Company.

• 1887

  Andrew J. Pierce arrives in Racine

  [1]Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org

  Andrew J. Pierce arrived in Racine, Wisconsin, before organizing a local gas-engine business several years later.

Pierce-Racine positioned itself as a regional American automobile manufacturer offering compact runabouts as well as increasingly powerful touring cars. Its range moved from modest one- and two-cylinder vehicles toward larger four-cylinder and 40- to 45-horsepower automobiles.

• Runabout · 1904

  Initial Pierce-Racine runabout

  Introduced in 1904, the first Pierce-Racine was a small two-seat runabout derived from the company’s earlier experimental and Mitchell-related work. It used a one-cylinder engine producing approximately 8 horsepower. The car represented Pierce’s transition from stationary and marine engine manufacture into branded automobile production.

• Runabout · 1906

  Model A-3

  The Model A-3 was a two-cylinder Pierce-Racine runabout listed in March 1906 with an output of 12 horsepower. It occupied the more accessible end of the company’s range and retained the compact, lightweight format associated with early brass-era automobiles.

• Light touring car · 1906

  Model A-4

  The A-4 was a two-cylinder light touring car listed in the 1906 Pierce-Racine catalog. Its 14-horsepower engine placed it above the A-3 runabout while keeping it within the company’s smaller-car range.

• Light touring car · 1906

  Model B2

  The B2 was a 16-horsepower, two-cylinder light touring car offered in 1906. It formed an intermediate step between the smaller A-series cars and the four-cylinder Model C.

• Touring car · 1906

  Model C

  The Model C was Pierce-Racine’s four-cylinder touring car in the 1906 range. With a listed output of 24 horsepower, it was the marque’s largest documented model at that point and illustrated its move beyond small runabouts.

• Touring automobile · 1907

  Model D

  Introduced as the principal Pierce-Racine offering from 1907, the Model D was a 40-horsepower automobile priced at $2,600. It represented the marque’s shift toward larger and more powerful touring-oriented cars.

• Touring automobile · 1908

  Models E, G, and H

  The Model D was developed through the E, G, and H versions up to 1909. These later Pierce-Racine automobiles reached approximately 45 horsepower and were listed at about $2,000 in 1909. They were among the final vehicles sold under the Pierce-Racine identity before the Case absorption.

• 1910

  Absorption into the J. I. Case Threshing Machine CompanyM&A

  Background

  The Pierce Motor Company was incorporated into the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company on August 4, 1910.

  Action taken

  J. I. Case absorbed the automobile company and continued automobile production under the Case name.

  Aftermath

  The Pierce-Racine brand ceased to be used as an independent marque, while Case automobiles remained in production until 1927.

  Source

• 1909

  Reorganization as Pierce Motor CompanyStrategy

  Background

  The Pierce Engine Company had expanded from engines into automobiles, but its automobile business was then reorganized with investment from interests associated with the J. I. Case Company.

  Action taken

  The company adopted the Pierce Motor Company name and continued its automobile activities under the reorganized structure.

  Aftermath

  The independent structure lasted only briefly. In 1910 the company was absorbed by the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, and the automobiles became part of the Case line.

  Source

1. 1Pierce-Racine (automobile)en.wikipedia.org