Classic & Vintage - Hercules!

EDIT: PICTURES ADDED IN POST #16.

Alright, so I bought this old Hercules, and besides the fact that it's awesome, I know nothing about it. My flash is broken, so I can't take pictures at night(even inside), but here's one I took of the chainring with my bike light on it:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/DSCF0003_15.jpg

and here's one from the CL ad:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/TxVgQ01D4QV31gVHFofPt99fNp8N.jpg

Anyway, even though it's probably useless without pictures, I'll go ahead and describe it because I'm excited and my wife doesn't want to talk about it.

The non-drive side dropout is stamped "6305", and that's the only number I can find on the bike.

There is a set of eyelets on the rear dropouts, a set on the fork ends, and one single eyelet on the drive-side seat stay, about 1/3 of the way up from the dropout. There are also 2 attachments for a frame pump on the seat tube.

The seat is destroyed, but it is a leather Persons.

Someone in the CL thread said it was a Sturmey-Archer hub, but all it says is "Made in England", and it's a flip flop, with both a fixed cog and a freewheel. I haven't counted teeth, but the gearing is way steeper than anything I'd ride on the street. It is not skip-tooth.

The rims are say "DUNLOP 26 X 1 1/4 E.A.1.M. MAD IN ENGLAND. U.K. PAT.182604

There are grease ports with little flip caps on both hubs, and the top of the BB shell on the drive side.

There are no markings on the underside of the BB shell.

The lugs all have oval cutouts.

The fork crown has a metal (chrome?) cover.

The handlebars and cranks have no identifying markings, and all the stem says is "Made in England", on the front/top of the clamp area.

The rubber grips are in good shape, and say "JOHN BULL CLUB GRIP"

The brakes are unmarked, and are comprised of very thin metal plates. The rear one is screwed in through the eat stay bridg (normal), but the front fork is not drilled for a brake, so it is clamped on the fork with clamps that attach near the brake pads

The brake levers do not match, and they are both unmarked. The one on the right is hooked up to the front brake, and the cable housing is extremely thick. The other one has normal sized housing.

The paint is black all over, except for the head tube which is gold. It looks like that was possibly done by hand at one point, but I'm not sure.

The headbadge has a big HC in the center, on the top it says "HERCULES CYCLE & MOTOR Co Ltd" and on the bottom "BRITANIA WKs BIRMINGHAM"

The decal on the top of the seat tube says "Guaranteed Chromium Plated"

And the fabulous chainring says HERCULES, as in the picture.

And there is a rear, steel fender with 3 things on it: A Hercules/England decal similar to the one in the middle of the seat tube, a triangle at the end of the fender with a word on each side: "can't make it out", "Strength" and "Hercules"(on the base), and a metal plate with the word HERCULES cut out, which is held on by the screws that attach the fender stays.

Alright, that's all for now. I'm not touching anything yet, and tomorrow there will be plenty of pictures. Any ideas so far?

Hercules, as you'll discover after you visit Sheldon Brown's web site and Compendium of All Things Useful About Cycling, was one of many British cycle manufacturers right up until their parent company bought Raleigh and moved the works from Birmingham to Nottingham in 1960.

Made in Birmingham means pre-1960, I believe.

I had a mid-50's Hercules Tourist for a while. In a moment of stupidity I sold it to a friend who'd had one as a kid. At least he rides and enjoys it. Neat bike.

You did it! Very cool! I'm glad somebody who will appreciate it got it!

Sounds cool. I'd guess that rear hub is a Brampton. That single eyelet on the rear stay is for a rear lamp. In terms of age, the EA1 rims, oiler holes, those bars, and rear hub indicate late 40s-early 50s vintage, probably on the early side of that range. Sorry not to be more precise than that.

Neal

You did it! Very cool! I'm glad somebody who will appreciate it got it!

Me too, although I was right about it being too small....but I think a longer seatpost should make it workable.

Me too, although I was right about it being too small....but I think a longer seatpost should make it workable.Well, just remember, it fits me. ;)

Very cool crankset, by the way! Congratulations!

How tall are you? Didn't you say 32" standover was right? Because I'm 5'11, and a 30-31" inch standover is about right for me, but this bike's standover is something more along the lines of a 28". It's upstairs though, so I haven't measured yet.

I'm 5'8" but by vintage bike sizing, I take a 32" standover height (they fit us to larger bikes back then.).

Well, if it ends up not working for me you can have first shot at it, but I wouldn't get excited;)

I agree with nlerner, I would think it's a forties bike, but I'm no expert. I couldn't resist putting up some pictures of the 1959 Hercules I finished a couple of months ago. It doesn't have that cool chainwheel, but it does represent one of the last "real" Hercules made. It's also too small for me, and I haven't ridden it yet because it's too darn cold here! This was a fun project because, although these bikes were heavy, they are of very high quality for this type.

David L.

I agree with nlerner, I would think it's a forties bike, but I'm no expert. I couldn't resist putting up some pictures of the 1959 Hercules I finished a couple of months ago. It doesn't have that cool chainwheel, but it does represent one of the last "real" Hercules made. It's also too small for me, and I haven't ridden it yet because it's too darn cold here! This was a fun project because, although these bikes were heavy, they are of very high quality for this type.

David L.
Nice! Your decals are in much better shape than mine.......mswantak?

Also, anyone know what's up with the gearing on this thing? It's got track gearing and the geometry is anything but.

EDIT: nevermind about the track gearing, I hadn't counted teeth, just guessed

I will buy into it being from the 40's. The hub may actually be a Herc hub. I have the Herc that Pastor Bob found in his magical town dump. Ours is a ladies frame single speed freewheel with rod brakes:eek: One thing I have discovered in my reading is that Hercules was one of the largest manufacturers of cycles in England next to Raleigh and made many of their own parts. They are difficult to date accurately. What does the Headbadge look like?

Aaron:)

I'm loving that chainring a lot. You should just clean it up and ride it like it is - as a kind of scorcher. Sweeeeet. Hey - no taking it off sweet ramps though.

I'm loving that chainring a lot. You should just clean it up and ride it like it is - as a kind of scorcher. Sweeeeet. Hey - no taking it off sweet ramps though.
+1
The unique chain rings of the old bikes is one thing that really draws me to them. I love the old Herc, Triumph, Royal Enfield and Raleigh Heron rings. You can tell what something is from 50 yards away:p Today all the bikes look pretty much the same. I have considered having a buddy of mine CNC me an alloy Raleigh crank for my club racer;) I would have the nice Heron design but in a much lighter crank:D

Aaron:)

I'm loving that chainring a lot. You should just clean it up and ride it like it is - as a kind of scorcher. Sweeeeet. Hey - no taking it off sweet ramps though.

What does "scorcher" mean?

Ok...here are some pictures:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_sideview.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_frontview.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_rearhub.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_pedal.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_crankset.jpg

clamp on front brake:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_frontbrake.jpg

grease port on bb shell:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_bb.jpg

persons saddle:
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_saddle.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_headbadge.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/braingel/H_fender.jpg



And, even though the top tube is the right length for me, the standover is super low. My first thought was to get a new seatpost, but when I took it out just now it is much longer than any that come on 70's bikes, and should do just fine. It's a good thing too, because it's weird and probably not very replacable...it's shaped like this : "7", with the seat clamping onto the horizontal extension. Oh, actually, if I replace the seat the new one will have a different clamp style, so I guess I am going to have to replace the seatpost.

Thanks for sharing, that is a sweet find!

Bizarre to clamp the brakes on, though....

If I could make a suggestion, I'll bet you could have new leather custom-made for that saddle. Somebody does it, it's just a matter of finding them.

Pretty cool find, whats the gearing? Doesn't look that bad to me, maybe 50X18? Thats pretty normal for that time period. Single speed bikes were typically geared a little higher in those days since the '60s on

Thanks for sharing, that is a sweet find!

Bizarre to clamp the brakes on, though....

If I could make a suggestion, I'll bet you could have new leather custom-made for that saddle. Somebody does it, it's just a matter of finding them.


Nice idea...I was thinking about getting a sprung Brooks for it, but getting the leather redone would be really cool unless the price was up in the stratosphere. I just kiiled my bike budget until I sell another one anyway, though, so no matter what happens it'll be a little while.


Pretty cool find, whats the gearing? Doesn't look that bad to me, maybe 50X18? Thats pretty normal for that time period. Single speed bikes were typically geared a little higher in those days since the '60s on

50/14. That's crazy to ride on the street, no matter who you are. 50/18 is resonable, but my fixed gear is geared 39/15, which I like, so I'll just get a 20-tooth cog for it.

Interesting to note that the rear fender doesn't have the ubiquitous white end on it. That may help with the dating.Thanks for the pictures! That is the same head badge that I have on mine. IIRC what I was told correctly that was in use from the mid 30's until around 1950.

Aaron:)

Really? I counted 48 tooth from the sprocket picture, The cog the chain is currently on looks 16, the other looks bigger. I had a single speed I geared 50X16 and it did just fine.. lil slow up the hills but hey! Took that thing on quite a few 100+km rides too.

Really? I counted 48 tooth from the sprocket picture, The cog the chain is currently on looks 16, the other looks bigger. I had a single speed I geared 50X16 and it did just fine.. lil slow up the hills but hey! Took that thing on quite a few 100+km rides too.

You're right...48 on the chainring, but the cog is 14. The freewheel is 18. 48/16 is still too high though, I used to ride 48/16, and then 46/16, and they both killed my knees.

That is looking very 1940s to me or maybe earlier given that seriously raked fork. Fwiw, my two 1930s Raleighs have Terry saddles, still in decent shape. Cool find!

Neal

So I take it there's no way to date it by the serial #?

The chainring is amazing.

So I take it there's no way to date it by the serial #?
Not that I have found. I have people in 2 countries trying to date my wife's Hercules Skyliner, not only can they not date it, nobody has ever heard of one!:eek:

Aaron:)

My first bike in the early 1950s was a Hercules a lot like that with those same handlebars and lugs, but with a S-A 3-speed hub. Also, the chainwheel was the "H" pattern, like tenordl's. I bought it used in the early 50s, so it might have been from the late 1940s. I'm guessing yours is from the 1940s.

Not that I have found. I have people in 2 countries trying to date my wife's Hercules Skyliner, not only can they not date it, nobody has ever heard of one!:eek:

Aaron:)
So if this is such a rare treasure, do you owe me more $$$? :p

So if this is such a rare treasure, do you owe me more $$$? :p What is that infamous biblical quote about storing up our treasures in heaven and not on earth....:p :D ;) The biggest fun to date has been to try and find some NOS brake pads. They apparently are unique to older Herc's...and not the same as what Raleigh used. It is very unusual compared to the "normal" Hercules threes speeds. My wife will be the belle of the ball at the next ABCE tour:D of course being the good southern pageant queen she is, she is ALWAYS the belle of the ball:p

Aaron:)

that was me and i said the that wingnuts looks like s-a type and that the flip/flop hub looks old

this bike looks nice and nearly complete.. i wouldn't replace stuff if there's nothing wrong with it..
nothin wrong with a cottered crankset



Someone in the CL thread said it was a Sturmey-Archer hub, but all it says is "Made in England", and it's a flip flop, with both a fixed cog and a freewheel.
...
Alright, that's all for now. I'm not touching anything yet, and tomorrow there will be plenty of pictures. Any ideas so far?

i wouldn't replace stuff if there's nothing wrong with it..
nothin wrong with a cottered crankset
There's nothing in the entire world that would cause me to take that crankset off.

Other than the seat, everything seems fine. Besides the obvious chain, cables, and housing needing replacement, the only other thing in question is the wheels. The back rim is in pretty good shape, and the spoke tension is still good, but the front rim has flaked off half of its chrome and is rusted. A few of the spokes are bent, and the whole wheel pretty much needs to be rebuilt....so I don't know what to do. I could just rebuild the front wheel with an old steel rim and new spokes, but I'm pretty OCD and like things to match. If I was going to rebuild both wheels with the hubs, should I stick with steel, or just get alloy with a shiny finish? Is that a treacherous thing to do?

What is that infamous biblical quote about storing up our treasures in heaven and not on earth....:p :D ;) The biggest fun to date has been to try and find some NOS brake pads. They apparently are unique to older Herc's...and not the same as what Raleigh used. It is very unusual compared to the "normal" Hercules threes speeds. My wife will be the belle of the ball at the next ABCE tour:D of course being the good southern pageant queen she is, she is ALWAYS the belle of the ball:p

Aaron:)
Aaron,

If she will be the "Belle of the Ball," well then, I am more than happy to contribute to her blessed happiness! :) Have you done any work on polishing the paint yet? That Hercules had to have one of the coolest original paint jobs for a regular production bike that I have ever seen. Especially considering that it was most likely a bike aimed at a child or youth market?

Bob,
I have barely gotten it out of the box, I did get it off the kitchen table though:p My company in their infinite wisdom has kept me on the road over a 5 state area since the first of the year. Once things get settled down and I am assigned a permanent project I will get going on it. About the paint job...I have some pictures of an early 50's Hercules Tourist it has a similar paint job in black. Same white highlights and gold striping around the lugs. I still would like to find out more about the history of the Skyliner and whose skyline it is on the decals...

Aaron:)

*cough*

Braingel, this might be for you:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HERCULES-BICYCLE-COLLECTORS-CHAINRING-NEVER-BEEN-FITTED_W0QQitemZ180087898826QQihZ008QQcategoryZ56193QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

way cool . the crank is geat and the pedels too. I can ask around the local harness and buggy shop about the leather work for the sadle. The amish seem to do nice work. I passed up a herc and a robin hood a couple months ago because I didnt wont to bid over $20 each, man am I regreting it. both went for under 40