What's Up With This Hercules?
07-09-15, 11:02 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
What's Up With This Hercules?
This 3-speed Hercules has been on my local CL for awhile. First off it has cables coming from both sides of rear axle/hub? What model has this setup? Also the spatter paint job doesn't look like it was done aftermarket. What's up with that?
I wouldn't pay $80 even in my market, but could you educate me about this bike?
Here's the link:
Vintage Ladies Hercules 3 speed bike Repair or Parts
I wouldn't pay $80 even in my market, but could you educate me about this bike?
Here's the link:
Vintage Ladies Hercules 3 speed bike Repair or Parts
__________________
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." Albert Einstein.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls & looks like work" - Thomas Edison
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." Albert Einstein.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls & looks like work" - Thomas Edison
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
07-09-15, 11:20 AM
#2
Senior Member
07-09-15, 11:34 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 24,968
Mentioned: 202 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13033 Post(s)
Liked 1,723 Times
in
1,303 Posts
My guess is that bike hails to the mid 80's or early 90's...
Perhaps not even Taiwanese/Chinese, and not proper British. I think that speckled look occurred on some bikes of that era.
I don't see a rear brake caliper or left brake lever, does it have pedal brakes?
Perhaps not even Taiwanese/Chinese, and not proper British. I think that speckled look occurred on some bikes of that era.
I don't see a rear brake caliper or left brake lever, does it have pedal brakes?
07-09-15, 12:04 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
@CliffordK - I initially thought that, but it has cottered cranks. Surely those were phased out by the '80's????
@TugaDude - could be a 5 speed. I'm tempted to go look at it, but it's way the heck on the east side of Portland & I'm in a different city, to the west.
@TugaDude - could be a 5 speed. I'm tempted to go look at it, but it's way the heck on the east side of Portland & I'm in a different city, to the west.
__________________
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." Albert Einstein.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls & looks like work" - Thomas Edison
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." Albert Einstein.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls & looks like work" - Thomas Edison
“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
07-09-15, 06:02 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 24,968
Mentioned: 202 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13033 Post(s)
Liked 1,723 Times
in
1,303 Posts
Originally Posted by Velocivixen
@CliffordK - I initially thought that, but it has cottered cranks. Surely those were phased out by the '80's????
I think there were 3 competing cranks.
- Cotters
- Cotterless
- One Piece.
I didn't pay a lot of attention to cotter cranks, but I think they endured for a very long time in the low end bike market (town bikes?)
Here is a 1986 Raleigh Catalog.
'The Headbadge': 1986 Raleigh USA Catalog
https://www.kurtkaminer.com/1986raleighcat_usa_26_lg.jpg
It is a little grainy, but it appears as if the 1986 3-speeds had cotters.
I'm guessing your Hercules is even newer than that. Or, somewhere around that time period.
07-10-15, 08:53 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 1,978
Bikes: Schwinn Paramount P15, Fisher Montare, Proteus, Rivendell Quickbeam
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
That is the German Hercules and not the British Hercules. German bikes are good around the town bikes. I like their quality better than the British 3 speeds.
07-10-15, 12:12 PM
#8
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,314
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 142 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1937 Post(s)
Liked 712 Times
in
448 Posts
Geez if that was near me $80 might be tempting just to have that 5spd hub, if it worked.
__________________
Bianchis '90 Proto, '90 Campione del Fausto Giamondi Specialisma Italiano Mundo, '91 Boarala 'cross, '93 Project 3, '86 Volpe, '97 Ti Megatube, '93 Reparto Corse SBX
Others but still loved; '80 Batavus Professional, '87 Cornelo, '?? Jane Doe (still on the drawing board), '90ish Haro Escape SLX Bertoni "Speckled Trout"
Bianchis '90 Proto, '90 Campione del Fausto Giamondi Specialisma Italiano Mundo, '91 Boarala 'cross, '93 Project 3, '86 Volpe, '97 Ti Megatube, '93 Reparto Corse SBX
Others but still loved; '80 Batavus Professional, '87 Cornelo, '?? Jane Doe (still on the drawing board), '90ish Haro Escape SLX Bertoni "Speckled Trout"
07-10-15, 12:16 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 24,968
Mentioned: 202 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13033 Post(s)
Liked 1,723 Times
in
1,303 Posts
Has it been a whole month since the ad went up?
I'm surprised someone hasn't snapped it up yet... or perhaps someone has.
I'm surprised someone hasn't snapped it up yet... or perhaps someone has.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Hairy Hands
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
37
10-05-12 11:04 AM
