The headbadge is nice. The seattube graphics have been damaged quite a bit. I meant to look at the hub before I left it but didn't. I will take a few more pics when I get it back. I'm going to call them today and tell them to go with blackwall tires.
I'm really looking forward to getting more information and seeing some better pictures of this bike. Sorry if I seem bossy with this, but there are not many of these old Hercules that show up on the forum here and since I've been engrossed in them for a good while now, perhaps I get a bit over-enthused.
Regarding the tires, black probably are correct for this bike. The red Hercules Lion is from 1951 and have what appear to be the original Dunlop tires still on the bike. Certainly the tires are not any newer than the early- to mid-1960's which is when they ceased production of bicycle tires.