Here's a compelling story about a jewel of a motorcycle, a lifetime career of restorations, inheritance and the antique motorcycle blues. So where do I start? I discussed antique motorcycle collections with some restoration nut cases recently and they pointed to three recently discarded collections. Each collector's dream became only a dollar sign to family members after the curator's death. A hard fought dream turned to numbers on a bank statement during inheritance battles. Ah, so what's the nickel-plated mantra?
I read recently that as Americans, we are tremendously fortunate. Did you know that if you have clothes on your back, a full fridge, a roof over your head, money in a bank account and a place to sleep that you are wealthier than 75 percent of the world's population. The Code of the West is to go for life right now. Do what you want and all you want while you can. We can't look forward and expect any goddamn thing. We have only now and our current resources to be thankful for and put to use.
I suppose in a true visual sense, we're fortunate to be able to enjoy the intricacies of this fine gem of motorcycle history from a company that was only in business from 1909 to 1913. It was only possible because the father of the Pierce Arrow car company (1901-1938) afforded his son the chance to build a line of motorcycles under the same name.
“Dad, whatta ya doing next week,” Pierce junior said. “Could you kick me down a plant to build the first inline four motorcycle in the United States?”
“No problem son,” Dad said, “Consider it done.”
Not sure it went down precisely like that, but ultimately, both companies went out of business. Pierce's four-cylinder motorcycle was an expensive machine that saw limited sales. Though the company also offered a less-expensive single- cylinder model of similar design, both bikes reportedly cost more than their retail prices to build. Dad decided building cars and bicycles were more profitable and began to shut the motorcycle element down. Then George Pierce's death, bankruptcy, Percy Pierce's (George Pierce's son) resignation, and the country's fading appetite for expensive motorcycles forced the company under 1913. Then of course, there was WWI from 1914-1918 and the depression in 1929.
The entire Pierce story was amazing and I wrote about it in a previous American Iron issue. Although they didn't succeed, they built some of the finest motorcycles of that era, or any era, for that matter. They're amazing and so is the story around this restoration effort and the collection this 1912 Model C Single resided in, before the owner/restorer passed on during a hit- and-run motorcycle accident.
Jim Watson, a scientist, bought this Pierce model C single with twin cams and a multi-plate clutch in 1973 for $150 and completed the restoration in 1998. How's that for a long- term project? Jim was meticulous about every aspect. His first move included the systematic research of Pierce history. He studied the history of that particular motorcycle model C single, which less that 50 were built in the four-model Pierce 1912 lineup. He located all the other existing versions of that vintage in the country and scrutinized them.
From the moment the restoration procedure began, Jim documented every aspect in three 4-inch thick binders containing history, comparisons, notes and receipts. The original bike was sold over idle conversation. The seller mentioned the bike to Jim, and when the deal was completed, he returned to his Texas home and scoured his yard for various parts and pieces. Jim received a wooden box full of various components.
This turned into a highly complex bike to restore with the oil and gas tanks integrated into the frame and the extreme lack of available parts. Its single cylinder 592 cc engine had twin cams, yet was only capable of 5 horses. The slender machine weighed only 235 pounds, with a 57-inch wheelbase, yet was capable of a 55-mph top speed and was considered the vibrationless motorcycle of that era.
Jim retired in 1998 to Fredericksburg, Texas with his diminutive collection of excellently restored motorcycles, including a 1922 Cleveland, a 1927 Harley-Davidson JD, a1931 German BMW and a 1912 Shaw single. Of his considerable family, including a son and daughter, only one grandson indicated any interest in antique motorcycle restoration, so Jim left another '60s BMW with a sidecar to him in his will.
Jim rode all his motorcycles, and in 1999 began to compete in AMCA (Antique Motorcycle Club of America) meets. His first shot at bike show competition garnered the single Pierce a Junior National first place with 85 out of 100 points. Jim was pleased but challenged to hit the 100-point mark. He returned to competition for the Rocky Mountain AMCA meet after several delicate alterations, and received 99.25 points. You can imagine his frustration. He disputed the judge's findings but the score remained intact, and Jim continued to do what he loved during his short retirement.
In 2005 while riding a '40s Indian Chief preparing for a vintage rally, Jim found himself on a back road alone. He may have broken down or was simply sideswiped. Other riders found him in a ditch, but he died doing what he loved. Unfortunately, during the will reading, no one in the family stepped forward to retrieve and cherish what Jim spent over 25 years to build. Don Whalen, of Sierra Motorcycle Company, stepped up and bought all four restored jewels and made sure they went to respectful collections. It's Don's code to find appropriate homes for quality antique motorcycles. It's his mission in life.
There you have it, the life and times of a 1912 single Pierce C, Jim Watson's love for bikes, his scientific approach to restorations, and the antique motorcycle blues when a refined collection is eventually torn asunder. That's life. Stop by in the future and we'll bring you another jewel from the Jim Watson collection.
