Classic & Vintage - English Roadsters: original saddles?

Hi there,

I am in the process of "restoring" a 1946 gent's Hercules roadster. It's not exactly the most faithful restoration ever. The bike currently has a retrofitted plastic mattress saddle. I would like to fit a Brooks saddle.

What type of saddle would this bicycle have come with when bought brand new in 1946?

I'm looking into etting a B73. Would this be suitable?

Thanks
Anthony

EDIT: View the progress of the restoration at my website HERE (http://homepages.tesco.net/houseofsteel/hercules.htm). I haven't updated it for a while (because I haven't been able to). I have since brought the bike up to a fully rideable state.

EDIT: Here's an image of the bike before I put the rear brake on.http://homepage.ntlworld.com/debnron/ready_to_ride_2.jpg

Excellent job. Did you do a repaint?

It quite possibly came with one of those mattress style saddles you have on it now - but either a B-66, B-72 or B-73 would look like it belongs on that.

This is pre-raleigh, and way cool. My son has a robin hood from the late '50's and it has a wrights. I'm pretty sure that it is original - I don't think that anyone (including my son) has ever ridden it!

Thanks, Zorro!

The frame and front fork had to be repainted; a lot of the paint was missing and the steel was a bit rusty. The rear rim is very rusty on the braking surface and relatively clean on the rim-tape surface, whereas the front rim is relatively clean on the braking surface but covered in rust on the rim tape surface.

I spray painted the spokes black. What a waste of spray paint! I couldn't afford to buy another can of brush on paint though, I already had the spray paint.

A lot of the chrome plating had come off on most of the hardware; most noticeable is the brake levers, which had to be entirely painted with silver Hammerite.

PS. on the 8th day, He created the STURMEY-ARCHER.

Nice.

It looks bombproof. Is it a heavy bike?

I like the black spoke treatment (even though
I generally don't like black components!).
I had a roadster of unknown origin
(rattlecan paint) back in the early 60's.
It had the ubiquitous 2 tone brooks matress
saddle. I think B67 would look very appropriate
on this one.
Nice job
Marty

Thanks for the comments, everyone.

Suntreader, it's very heavy indeed. I think I'll try and weigh it tonight if I can.

I'll look for a nice Antique Brown B67 for it, I think.

Black spokes were avalible if 46 so they do look correct.Many English roadsters were offered in "British all weather" they painted all the chrome black at the factory.Hercules was owned by The British Cycle Corp. at this time--they also owned Wrights Saddle inaddition to quite a few other cycle and parts manufactures.I've seen several NOS wrights saddles on Ebay --I got one for $15.Other saddles that also would be correct are Middlemore and Dunlop---sam

The B73 with that big hairpin spring in the front would look cool, though.

You're right, I really want one of those big hairpin-sprung saddles, they look very cool indeed. They seem to be prohibitively expensive, though. I've spent about £50 ($80-$90) on this bike and I don't want to spend an awful lot more on it, not without replacing the rims at least.


Thanks for the info about the BCC, frameteam!

I vote B72... Yellow Jersey in Madison has roadster gear cases for sale... http://www.yellowjersey.org/mguard.html Looks like you need one.

You're right, I really want one of those big hairpin-sprung saddles, they look very cool indeed. They seem to be prohibitively expensive, though. I've spent about £50 ($80-$90) on this bike and I don't want to spend an awful lot more on it, not without replacing the rims at least.


Yeah the genuine Brooks B73 can be a bit pricey. I've seen Chinese and Indian knockoffs on eBay at lesser prices though.

Yeah the genuine Brooks B73 can be a bit pricey. I've seen Chinese and Indian knockoffs on eBay at lesser prices though.

That Indian trampoline will throw a rider 5 meters if the road is too bumpy. :D

That gearcase is for 28" wheel, and mine is 26". Also, it's $50, which is a lot, even without considering the postage to England. Not only that, but I'm getting a HERCULES chainwheel so I'd like that on show!

I'm not going to get a cheap imitation saddle. I saw a Leppers saddle that looked nice, but was of course DUtch, and wouldn't have been on such a bike in 1946.

I had a 1969 Raleigh Sports 3speed from 1979 to 1987 & it had a Brooks B66 saddle that appeared to be original. Nicely broken in & very comfortable! I commuted to work & school on it & wish I still had it, if only for the great saddle. Don

Hey, you've got a nice looking bike there! Have a look at my 1941 Hercules on my website http://oldbikes.741.com

I also had to replace its seat, I fitted a sprung Raleigh saddle which looks cool to me! This only cost me R 80 (around 7 UK pounds).

I have also ordered sprung Humber saddles (which look pretty much the same) for two of my other bikes.

Let me know, maybe I could send you a saddle from South Africa?

I have not re-painted any of my bikes, have not done this before, so am a bit hesitant. Just bought an old BSA which is pretty rusted up. Might try a paint job on it!

Looks like you've done a great job with your bike. Spokes look cool too :)

Are your pedals original?

Regards

Charl

Hi

I've just realised after looking at your website that I've chatted to you before! :o Have you managed to reassemble your brakes yet? I'll be taking the digital camera home from campus today so should be able to e-mail you some close-ups of the braking mechanism tomorrow.

If memory serves there are exploded raleigh rod brake diagrams somewhere on the http://www.oldroads.com website

Ciao

Charl

. . .

Let me know, maybe I could send you a saddle from South Africa?


Charl

Charl,

could you pack it in Biltong?

Marty

Hello again, Charl! I was wondering when you'd realise it was me.

Looking forward to seeing those photos! I've assembled mine but I'd like to see some photos from another to make sure.

The back brake is more powerful than the front. The mechanism for the front is quite poor though; it could do with a lot more leverage. I might bend the lever to give it more leverage.

More travel, I mean! The power applied by the lever itself should be enogh, it just needs to move further before hitting the handlebar grip.

Hey there

Glad you've managed to put the brakes together again. I've put up two close-ups of my Hercules' back brake mechanism (a bit out-of-focus, don't know what was up with the camera...) on my website http://oldbikes.741.com .

I have a similar problem with my front brakes, however I think shortening one of the rods with a hacksaw should do the trick....?

I have also added pics of myself doing the Argus Cycle Tour and of a BSA bicycle I bought about a week ago... wait for it, this bike has a dog licence, I kid you not! :D

Regards

Charl

Charl,

Thanks for the pics, the new bike looks good (apart from the saddle!!).

Your rear brake linkage is slightly different, but it seems similar. I don't think using a hacksaw would solve the front brake problem at all! I think it just needs more travel.

For a roadster bicycle with 635mm wheels, you'll want the Brooks B-73. It came as standard on Raleigh Superbe roadsters. For a sports bicycle with 590mm wheels, the appropriate Brooks saddle would be the B-66.

Excellent job. Did you do a repaint?

It quite possibly came with one of those mattress style saddles you have on it now - but either a B-66, B-72 or B-73 would look like it belongs on that.

+1 my 58 Pre-Raleigh Norman didn't have a brooks. A brooks saddle would look very nice on it, keep the other though, just in case it is original.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/3049339438_3574e165dd_o.jpg

My 1937 men's Sports and '39 lady's DL-1 both have their original Terry saddles.

Neal