But remember, catalogs came from the marketing department (for lack of a better term), while the bikes came from a factory; and in many cases the catalogs came out before the bikes did. The catalogs are more prescriptive then descriptive, if you see what I mean.

Again, knowing nothing about Hercules, I can tell you something about Normans that is, I think, applicable.
My 1950 Norman 3 speed has no model name on it; just says "Norman" and "Norman of England" &c all over it. It has the fancy chain ring with five Norman soldier spokes. I also have the Norman product brochure for that model year. In the brochure, the bike like mine is clearly labeled "Norman Tourist Model", and those words appear on the seat tube of the bike pictured. The bike pictured is just like mine, even the color is listed (burgundy with gold lining); but the bike pictured has a plain chain ring. Elsewhere in the brochure are pictures of the fancy Norman components, including hubs and pedals marked "Norman of England" and a crank on which the chain ring has the little Norman soldiers, but six of 'em. Six! I've never seen a chain ring like that, and frankly doubt it ever existed; it's an artist's rendition of something s/he'd never seen.