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.