sparkey

Hi,
I hope someone on here can tell me something about this bike. I picked it up cheaply from E-bay thinking it would make a nice bike for around town. However, it needs a bit of work and I'm trying to decide if it's a rare bike that should be restored meticulously or a cheap knockabout that I can just repair using stuff lying around.

Everything was on the bike that needed to be, it's just that I started stripping it down to clean before I thought to take photos - that's why the rod-brakes, lights and shifter are not fitted. Only the saddle (a no-name mattress one) and the shifter lever (a Sturmey Archer 70s-80s vintage one) seem to be non-original - everything else has a similar wear patina.

I've attached a set of photos to help because I've not been able to find any information about this particular model anywhere on the internet. It looks similar to the "popular" model, but it's got extra stuff like the dynamo front hub (and lights) that looks like it was there from new.

The only dateable bit of the bike is that front hub which has the code "455" stamped in - I assume April 1955. The rear hub is not a Sturmey Archer, but a Hercules B Type 4 - I picked up from somewhere that this hub was made by Brampton for Hercules (hence the B), but I'm not sure of the significance of the number 4 - it's a three speed.

The frame number (8783 ZV) is stamped on the LH rear dropout (which, judging by the location of the mudguard mounting hole is Pre-Raleigh takeover - that and the "Birmingham" badge). The chainring is the "HV" style, not the "Hercules" style and it has a large "H" and small "c" stamped underneath the bottom bracket.

It has a (used to be) chromed tube running alongside the cross-bar and fitted into brazed lugs at either end that held the cable from the front light (Sturmey Archer) to the rear (Delite?). Was that it's original purpose, or did it used to hold the gearshift cable?

There are some shadows of old pin-striping and transfers in places, I think indicating that this is probably the original colour (although faded). Any help on the actual text of the transfers?

Please, note that I'm not looking to sell this bike now I've got it. I'd just like to know how it stood in the Hercules range and whether I should/can get things like the transfers and chroming redone, or if I should just clean it up and leave it.

Many thanks for any help you're able to give.

Regards,
Alyn.

sparkey

Well, thanks for all your help. I've managed to turn up some interesting information since posting this, which I'll add here in the hope that Google picks it up for anyone else searching.

The Pullman was Hercules' top-of-the-range bike in April 1955, when it cost £22, 19s and 6d (up by a pound from this catalogue page I found). That equates to about £465 in today's (2011, UK) money. Extras included with the bike were a reflector, a chromium plated pump, holdall saddle bag, kickstand, dynohub with dry battery pack and the chromium plated cable sleeve I pointed out in my pictures.

Most of those were missing from the bike, bar the actual dynohub and lights (it didn't have the dry battery pack) and the rear reflector. I've now managed to find a DBU, chainguard, Her-Cu-matic lever and the Shuresta kickstand. I also know I need to find a proper Brooks B22 saddle - may be whistling in the wind there.

It turns out my bike was originaly sold by Pile's bike shop in Exeter (UK), so not too far away from where I bought it. I've not managed to find out much about this shop, except that there were two premises in 1955/6 on different sides of the city.

Cheers,
Alyn.

Velognome 

Nice Hercules, I hope it cleans up well.

Don't assume too much from the hub codes. I have a A type O hub. All I can tell you is that it is an alloy shell, a 3 speed, and is a 30's vintage. I think the letters and #'s denote more a time line and perhaps a gearing range more than anything else.

wahoonc

Looks like it would be a bike to try to restore. The older Hercules don't seem to be as numerous as the old Raleighs. I have a Hercules Skyliner that we have yet to find in a catalog anywhere. It is probably a post war to early 1950's bike, step through frame, single speed freewheel, rod brakes with 26" (590) wheels. It also has the "Hercules" chain ring, not the "H" style you have. It is definitely pre Raleigh.

Aaron

Velognome 

I agree with Aaron, worthy of a restoration. It's odd in that Hercules was such a large Mfg and so few pre-raleigh era bicycles seem to have survived or at least have come out from their hidding places.

Coreyk

I really like the pre-Raleigh Hercules (and other BCCI bikes- BSA and Phillips, especially)- I'm a big fan of their workmanship. There was a reason Hercules were neck-and-neck with Raleigh for number one bicycle maker in the Empire for so long.

The headbadge is the real giveaway- I've been told that all of the "Birmingham" marked Hercules headbadges were replaced with "Nottingham" ones by Sept. 1960.

Please post pictures as you get the restoration underway.

Charlesnesbit

for posting this from the catalogue. It was my 1st. bike, present from a great person, my Dad, in 1955. I used for riding to school and nice trips for a number of years. Sad I sold or gave it away......