Pierce frame i know nothing about! Help?
 

Hello all, I have this Pierce bike i got from my great aunt and i would like to know more about it and maybe what i should do to/with it?
Mystery Pierce Bicycle i know nothing about - Album on Imgur
Things i know:
-its a Pierce frame, Simplex derailleur (pretty sure thats the word), 50's Schwinn seat/handlebars, and mystery wheels with 70s looking tires.
-its old
-Pierce started making bikes and motorcycles sometime around 1901 (i'm told) and i've also been told this frame is 50s.

Things i want to know:
-How old is it?
-Is it worth much?
-Should i leave it well enough alone? try to clean it up? Replace parts and just use it? Do anything at all?
-anything else you've got is great!

Thanks a lot!

Edit: i went through bunches of different searches and this is the closest-looking thin gi can find. Its only similar in how the frame is designed/shaped, so maybe it bears some clues? http://www.kijiji.ca/v-other-bike/lo...que/1065518767

It's a nice period piece, though there seems to be much that isn't original.

I'd clean it up, leaving as much as possible as it is, then think about a disposition. Given that it was in the family, I might try to find it a home still in the family.

im not thinking get rid of it, at least i dont think. Maybe best ways to make it work/be in better shape?
I havent seen another Pierce bike but just by shear amount of different names i could tell very little is original haha

Off the cuff, I suspect the frame is French made, simply marketed under the Pierce brand. You might do a search to see if the graphics and any logo, match what was used by the Pierce MC company you know, or not. I also suspect the drive train is original, or at least period correct for the frame.

You can learn plenty by measuring the stem diameter above the headset, and/or checking the fork or bottom bracket threads.

In any case, this can be a nice project, and as I said you should strive to keep as much as possible while you clean it up (restore would imply more than what I have in mind).

agreed, when i think restore i think scout out original parts and make it like the catalogue