Pierce Governor Company in World War Two
Anderson, IN
1913-1916 as Pierce Speed Controller Company
1916-1971 as Pierce Governor Company
1971-2011 as Pierce Company

This page updated 4-4-2024.

An American Automobile Industry Component Supplier

Pierce Governor Company had its beginnings in a garage at 9th and Central Ave. in Anderson, IN, where George Pierce developed a cable driven governor.  As demand for the company's governors grew, it moved at a later date to 1602 East Ohio Avenue in Anderson, where the company began to produce engine speed controllers for automotive and truck applications.  It remained in Anderson until 1965 when it moved to Upland, IN.  Until 1973, the company produced only mechanical governors which were used on various gasoline and diesel engine applications in industrial equipment, farm tractors, farm implements, over-the-road trucks, off-road vehicles, RVs, and generator sets.  In 1971 Pierce Governor became a wholly owned subsidiary of Avis Industries and changed its name to Pierce Company.  With the use of mechanical governors declining in engines, the company purchased several fuel pump companies and began producing them.  In 1995 Pierce purchased the Hoof Governor Company, which had a product line of electronic governors.  Ninety-eight years after its beginning, the Pierce Company plant in Upland, IN closed in February 2011 and the remaining forty employees were let go.

This watercolor postcard shows the Pierce Governor factory looking east.  Note the Interurban running down the middle of Ohio Avenue.  This was the main method of mass transit in central Indiana during the first part of the 20th century.  Although many of the railroad tracks through Anderson no longer exist, the rail tracks shown in the postcard are still in operation. 

This Sanborn map shows the Peterson Lumber and Coal Co. to the east of the Pierce factory.  The building in blue on the west end of the Pierce factory complex was added in 1953.  It added laboratory and research space for the company.

This is the front entrance of Pierce Governor on Ohio Avenue in Anderson, IN.  Photo courtesy of Anderson Public Library.

After World War Two, Pierce Governor had a large contract to provide both fuel control units and over speed governors for both the J-33 and J-47 jet engines.  Because of the high volume for these items, aircraft component manufacturing was moved to a plant at 11th and John Streets.  When the business outgrew that building, the aircraft business was moved to the former Ward-Stilson Plant at 3rd and Sycamore Streets in Anderson.  In the early 1950s, 80% of the Pierce Governor Company's business was aircraft applications.  At this time 1,200 persons worked at the company.

The former Ward-Stilson plant in Anderson, IN.  Ward-Stilson was a manufacturer of women's clothing.  The plant went from making clothing to jet engine components.  After Pierce Governor vacated the plant, Delco-Remy purchased it to use for obsolete equipment storage.  Photo courtesy of Anderson Public Library. 

This advertisement is from a 1916 issue of the Commercial Car Journal.  It remains to be seen whether the Pierce Governor Company was actually the world's largest governor builder in only its third year of business.  Image courtesy of Warren Richardson. 

In 1918 Pierce Governor Company had quite a few customers for its engine governors in the fledging automobile and truck industries.  Many of the companies listed were building only a small number of vehicles.  By the time World War Two arrived, only six of the companies listed in this advertisement were still in business.  Image from the September 1918 issue of the Commercial Car Journal courtesy of Warren Richardson. 

Pierce Governor World War Two Products:   I originally became interested in the company while reviewing another company in the Ordnance Supply Catalog as a supplier for the Mack 10-ton 6x4 NR series cargo truck. In the listing of suppliers for the vehicle, I saw the name Pierce Governor.  I recognized this as the name of a company that had at one time been in Anderson, IN.  The subject of truck governors made by a former local company sounded like an interesting project.

I thought that because it was a local company for so many years,  I might get lucky and find significant information at the local library or historical center that would provide insight into its World War Two products.  While I did find one company newsletter dated November 1943 with a small amount of World War Two product information, the information was conflicting.  Another document noted that the company made aircraft components for the war effort.  However, more research indicated that the aircraft components were for post-war jet engines. 

On the other hand, several World War Two Army Technical and Ordnance Supply Manuals provided enough information to show that Pierce governors were utilized in several different types of armored vehicles and trucks.  The complete story of all of the engine types and their applications in which Pierce governors were used during the war may never be known.  What has been found, however, is truly impressive.  What is unknown are the many applications that were used in stationary engines for U.S. Army and U.S. Navy generators.  Other unknown applications also include construction equipment used by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Navy Seabees.  The many uses for internal combustion engines that could have utilized a Pierce governor to keep them from over speeding is vast and currently unknown.

Pierce Governor Company was the supplier of engine governors to Continental Motors of Muskegon, MI, which in turn supplied two types of radial engines for use in tanks and armored vehicles.  The most important of these vehicles was the M3 Stuart light tank and the M4/M4A1 Sherman medium tank.  Continental produced 30,000 W-670 engines for the M3 light tank series and 54,104 R-975 engines for the M4/M4A1 Sherman tank and other related vehicles.

The M4 and M4A1 Sherman medium tanks were used by the U.S. Army throughout World War Two and were in every major campaign once they were introduced.  Pierce Governor Company of Anderson, IN did its part to keep the engines at proper speed during all sorts of conditions in road marches and combat.  Both Pierce Governor Company in Anderson, IN and this product has been overlooked for its contribution  to winning World War Two.

The document below indicates that Pierce Governor supplied Continental W-690 radial engines with an MA-1305 governor.

This illustration is from a World War Two Army Technical Manual TM9-1750D for the Continental R-975 radial engine and shows an MA-1377 Pierce governor.

This photo from TM-9-1751 shows the Pierce governor MA-1377 being disconnected from the R-975 radial tank engine.

The governors shown in the previous two photos match up with this one on the R-975 on an M3 Lee medium tank at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, MA.  Author's photo. 

The Pierce governor is just left of center in the photo.  Author's photo. 

While the M4/M4A1 became the dominant and preferred medium tank of the U.S. Army for the first two and a half years of World War Two, American tankers landed in North Africa with the M3 Grant.  Pierce governors landed with the American tankers and kept their engines running at the proper speeds.  Author's photo. 

The next two images are from the Autocar U-8144T Maintenance Manual.

The MA-1477 was used on the R-975 engine used in the M4/M4A1 Sherman tank and several models of Hercules truck engines.  Image added 9-11-2023.

This page gives adjustment and assembly instructions.  Image added 9-11-2023.

This Pierce Governor advertisement from the November 1943 Commercial Car Journal is the only piece of information that ties one of its Flyball governors to the Reo-built 29XS 7-1/2-ton aviation fuel tractor.  Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck. 

This is Technical Order No. 00-35A-28 dated March 27, 1944.  It shows the equivalency of the Reo XS29/F1 to the Biederman, Corbitt, and Federal F-1 fuel tractors.  All most likely had Pierce governors controlling the speed on their Hercules HXD engines.  Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck.

Images of Vehicles with Pierce Governors:

Continental R-670 Radial Gasoline Engine - The vehicles shown in this section had their R-670 engines governed by Pierce Governor Model MA-1305.

M3A1 serial number 10183 is on display in front of the American Legion in Rome, NY.  It was built December 1942 in Berwick, PA.  Author's photo.

There were 7,225 LVT-1s built with Pierce governors during World War Two.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021. 

As this diorama at the National Museum of the United Stated Marine Corps depicts, the LVT was used to bring Marines ashore under hostile fire.  Pierce governors built in Anderson, IN were used on combat vehicles around the globe during World War Two.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021.   

8,351 LVT-4s were also produced during World War Two.  The LVT-4 differed from the LVT-1 in that the engine was moved from the rear to the front of the vehicle behind the driver's station.  It also had a rear ramp that allowed troops to exit out the rear of the vehicle rather than having to jump over the sides.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021. 

Not only were the LVT series vehicles used by the Marines, but the U.S. Army also used them extensively for the many river crossings in Europe.  Pierce governors kept engines running properly during important beach and river crossings in World War Two.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021. 


  The back side of the R-670 engine is a complicated place.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021. 

The Pierce governor is at the bottom, partially blocked by the hose running vertically up the rear of the engine.  The oval orange data plate on it is partially visible.  There are actually two products on this engine built in Anderson, IN.  The starting motor at the top of the engine was built by the Delco-Remy Division of General Motors in May 1945.  The two plants of these two companies were six city blocks apart.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021. 

Author's photo added 8-13-2021. 

Part of "Pierce" can be identified.  "Anderson Indiana U.S.A" is along the bottom.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021. 

This photo using a flash shows the name "Pierce."  Author's photo added 8-13-2021.

  This LVT-A4 was armed with a 75mm howitzer.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021. 

Guiberson T-1020 Radial Diesel Engine:  This engine was used in 1,285 M3 light tanks and 211 M3A1 light tanks.

This is an M3 Serial Number 1343 which is part of the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection, Fort Moore, GA.  It was built  with a welded turret in August 1941 at the Berwick Plant.  Author's photo added 9-11-2023.

This Guiberson T-1020 tank engine is on display at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, WY.  This engine was never used and came to the museum packed in its original Cosmoline.  After the Cosmoline was removed, this pristine and rare engine is now on display at the museum.  The wooden bottom portion of the packing crate is brand new, as the original had deteriorated with time.  Author's photo added 9-11-2023. 

Author's photo added 9-11-2023.

Closer examination of the engine reveals that it has a Piece Governor Company governor installed on it.  Author's photo added 9-11-2023. 

While the Cosmoline deteriorated the paint during 80 years of storage, there is still enough legible information on the data plate to identify this as being manufactured by Pierce Governor.  Author's photo added 9-11-2023.

The words "governor  Anderson  Ind" are still visible on the data plate.  This is a model CC 95 5 governor.  Author's photo added 9-11-2023. 

Author's photo added 9-11-2023.

Continental R-975 Engine - All of the vehicles shown in this section had their R-975 engines governed by Pierce Governor Model MA-1377.

This is an Alco-built M4 Sherman tank, serial number 3949, built April 1943.   Author's photo from the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Collection, Fort Benning, GA.

This Pressed Steel-built small hatch M4A1(75) is serial number 192, built in July 1942.  It is USA number 3014948.  It is the oldest Pressed Steel M4A1(75) known to exist and is owned by the Virginia Military Museum of Military Vehicles.  Note that this tank has the direct vision ports for the driver and assistant driver.  Author's photo.

This M7 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage is owned by the Virginia Museum of Military Vehicles.  It was built by Alco in November 1942 and carries serial number 1364. 

The Buick-built M18 tank destroyer is part of the collection of Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage, NY.

This is one of only twelve M39s that still exist of the 640 that were originally built or converted from the M18 Hellcat.  Author's photo. 

4-Ton Trucks: 

The Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage, Long Island, NY has this very nice restoration of a Diamond T 6x6 four-ton wrecker.   Diamond T also made cargo, pontoon, and dump truck versions on this same chassis.  A total of 26,762 4-ton 6x6 trucks of this type were built by Diamond T with an MA-1325-A Pierce governor controlling the speed of the Hercules RXC engine.  Author's photo.

4-5-Ton Trucks:

This is one of 11,104 Autocar U-7144T 4-5-ton 4x4 tractors built during World War Two.  Federal and White built similar models with Pierce Governor Company model MA-1377 for a total of 21,974 vehicles of this type.  Author's photo. 

This image shows the MA-1377 used on the 4-5-ton 4x4 tractors.  It was also used on the 5-6-ton 4x4 tractors.  Image from the Supply Ordnance Catalog for the 4-5-ton 4x4 tractor.

5-6-Ton Trucks:

The 5-6-ton Autocar U-8144T was also produced by FWD and Mack.  The U-8144T has a longer wheel base than the U-7144T series but still used the Pierce Governor Company's model MA-1377 governor.  There were 6,719 built by all three companies.  Image added 9-11-2023.

This one is an Autocar-built U-8144T that is part of the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, WY.

6-Ton Trucks:

This is one of 3,211 Corbitt 50SD6 6-ton 6x6 prime movers.  The Ordnance Supply Catalog shows both the Hercules HXC and HXD engines were used for this type of truck. Similar versions were built by the White Motor Company. The trucks with the HXC used the Pierce Governor models MA-1028 and the HXD-powered trucks used the MA-1475 governor.  The total for all types of 6-ton 6x6 trucks was 10,204 units.  Photo courtesy of Jeff Lakaszcyck.

The White 666 used the same MA-1028/MA-1475 as the Corbitt shown above.  White built 3,946 Model 666 prime movers like this one.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021.

7-1/2-Ton Trucks:

Biederman Model P-1 Truck Crane - The P-1 was powered by a Hercules JXD with a Pierce Governor Company Model MA-1125-84.

Image from T. O. No. 19-40-12 dated 5 March 1945 added 10-21-2023.

Photo courtesy of Warren Richardson added 10-21-2023.

Image from T. O. No. 19-40-12 dated 5 March 1945 added 10-21-2023.

Image from T. O. No. 19-40-12 dated 5 March 1945 added 10-21-2023.

Image from T. O. No. 19-40-12 dated 5 March 1945 added 10-21-2023.

10-Ton Trucks: 

This is a Mack NR-14 10-ton 6x4 cargo truck.  It differed from the previous NR series trucks in that it had dual rear tires rather than the previous versions which had single rear tires.  The combined production of all various models of the NR series totaled 15,528.  Their diesel engines were equipped with Pierce MA-1319 governors.  Photo courtesy of  Wikipedia. 

While looking through the Supply Ordnance Catalog for information on another company, I found the following information.  I realized that the former Pierce Governor Company of Anderson, IN had been a supplier of equipment during World War Two.  This in turn led to this webpage on the company.

From the Ordnance Supply Catalog for the Truck, 10-Ton, 6x4 Cargo, Models NR6-15. 

PG is the designation for a Pierce Governor part.  From the Ordnance Supply Catalog for the Truck, 10-Ton, 6x4 Cargo, Models NR6-15. 

From the Ordnance Supply Catalog for the Truck, 10-Ton, 6x4 Cargo, Models NR6-15. 

This page in the Ordnance Supply Catalog indicates that the main assembly was Pierce Governor PG-MA-1319, Governor, injection pump, assembly.  From the Ordnance Supply Catalog for the Truck, 10-Ton, 6x4 Cargo, Models NR6-15.  

From the Ordnance Supply Catalog for the Truck, 10-Ton, 6x4 Cargo, Models NR6-15. 

From the Ordnance Supply Catalog for the Truck, 10-Ton, 6x4 Cargo, Models NR6-15. 

High Speed Tractors:

Cleveland Tractor Company M2:

This 1942 M2 "Cletrac" is on display at the National Museum of the USAF and is one of 6,320 built by the Cleveland Tractor Company.  John Deere built another 2,190.  All M2 "Cletracs" had Pierce Governor GC-295 governors to control the engine speed on the Hercules WXLC-3 engine.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021.

From the Parts Book for the M2 "Cletrac."  Image added 8-13-2021.

From the Parts Book for the M2 "Cletrac."  Image added 8-13-2021.

From the Parts Book for the M2 "Cletrac."  Image added 8-13-2021.

International M5 and M5A1:

Pierce Governor supplied MA-1489 engine governors for the 5,872 M5 and M5A1 tractors built by International Harvester.  Author's photo added 8-13-2021.

Construction Equipment using Pierce governors:

Koehring 304 Excavator - The Model 304 was powered by a Chrysler C36-520 with a Pierce Governor Company Model A-1557.

This is a clamshell version of the Koehring 304 Excavator.  From TM5-1172.

This is a shovel version of the Model 304.  From TM5-1172.

This is another shovel version of the unit.  From TM5-1172.

This is an exploded view of the Pierce Governor A-1557.  From TM5-1172.

From TM5-1172.

Generator Sets: 

The title page of  Navships 361-1004 lists Pierce Governor as the supplier of the engine and over speed governors for the Superior GDB-8 engine used on this power generator.  It is unknown which models were used or how many were built.  The GDB-8 with Delco Products Generator Model I-3622 was used for ship's power in a number of LSTs.  They were no doubt used in other types of U.S. Navy ships for the same purpose.  The governor is located on the front of the engine.  It is not known how many Superior GDB-8 engines were built or what Pierce Governor Company governor was on the engine.

The Hercules six cylinder, 80 hp RXID engine on the PE-81-F power unit used a Pierce MA-1007 governor.  Image from TM-11-223 added 6-24-2021.

The PE-90-A,B,C,D utilized a Pierce Governor Model CC-413 to control the speed on the D.W. Onans and Sons V-45-M engine 14.5hp, four cylinder gas engine.   Image from TM-11-223 added 6-24-2021.

15,049 PE-95-A, B, C, D were built by D.W. Onans and Sons with Ford ONY four cylinder, 20hp gasoline engines.  A Pierce model 75862 governor was used to keep the engine speed constant under various electrical loads.   Image from TM-11-223 added 6-24-2021.

This Onan and Son PE-95K generator set is awaiting restoration  at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN.  This PE-95K appears to have been built in 1952.  Author's photo added 12-28-2021. 

Author's photo added 12-28-2021. 

This is the Pierce governor.  Author's photo added 12-28-2021. 

Author's photo added 12-28-2021. 

The data plate is well worn, and the name is all but impossible to read.  By looking at it in just the right way, I was able to make out a little bit of the Pierce name.  However, this photo did not capture that information.  In the lower left the name "Anderson" can barely be seen.  Author's photo added 12-28-2021. 

Willys-Overland provided its MB-411 four cylinder, 24hp engine for the PE-95F electrical generator.  A belt drive governor model CC-417 built by the Pierce Governor Company in Anderson, IN provided engine speed control.  Image from TM-11-223 added 6-24-2021.

The PE-113-B was powered by a Buda K-428 six cylinder, 63.5 hp gasoline engine with a Pierce mechanical governor.  Image from TM-11-223 added 6-24-2021.

The PE-127B was powered by a Continental QS-202 gasoline cylinder engine producing 34 hp.  Either the Pierce D-10010 or MA-1452 governors could be used with this engine.  Image from TM-11-223 added 6-24-2021.

A Hill four cylinder Diesel engine type 4R with 34 hp was utilized in the PE-205A.  It had its speed controlled by a Pierce mechanical governor.  Image from TM-11-223 added 6-24-2021.

The B-6A was used by the USAAF and was built by the Detroit Wax Paper Company of Detroit, MI.  Image from T.O. 19-45-66 added 4-4-2024.

The Pierce Governor-built governor controlled the Continental F-124 engine to 1,800 rpms.  Image from T.O. 19-45-66 added 4-4-2024.

The only description of the governor is that it controlled to 1,800 rpms.  Image from T.O. 19-45-66 added 4-4-2024.

Image from T.O. 19-45-66 added 4-4-2024.

This newspaper clipping shows the use of a Pierce governor in a portable welding unit. 

Post-World War Two Products: 

At the end of World War Two, Pierce became the supplier of precision governors for the GE-designed J-33 jet engine which the Allison Division of General Motors built in quantity starting at the end of World War Two.  Allison built 6,600 engines.  The J-33 was used in the Lockheed P-80.  Author's photo. 

The Pierce-supplied governor is figure #4 in this drawing.  The engine and the accessories for the J-33 that powered the P-80 were all Government Furnished Equipment (GFE).  This meant the Air Force was responsible for the purchase of the components and then supplied them to Allison.  The Pierce governor part number was 9018015.

A Lockheed P-80 at the Kalamazoo Air and Space Museum.  P-80s with Pierce engine governors were the first U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft to see combat in Korea.  Author's photo. 

Pierce also built components for the over 36,000 J-47 engines used in such aircraft at the B-45, B-47, and B-36.  Author's photo.

Author's photo.

B-47s were the first jet-powered bombers used in quantity by the USAF.  This one is on display at the Castle Air Museum.  Author's photo.

This B-45 is also on display at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA.  Author's photo.

Pierce Governor Product Catalog:  This undated catalog shows various applications for the company's product.  However, the document does mention that the company had been in business for over 25 years.  This would date the catalog at around 1938.