I found a deal I couldn't refuse: two English 3-speeds! The first and reason I was interested is a "Royal Prince" by Hercules, made in Birmingham, I have no idea of it's year, history, or maintenance. The only ID I could find was on the Headset; "B1405", and Rear hub; "Hercules - Manufactured in Birmingham - B type 6". Any help/direction would be appreciated. I'd like to restore it and use it around town. Ideas?






The seller also insisted I take a "barn-stored" Rudge. It's rough looking. Again, I have no idea on age, whatever, or even if it's worth working on...





Any help/ideas/abuse will be welcomed... Thanks, Doug

Hercules nice. Rudge fantastic. You got the hand on the crank. Is the hub aluminum? You did great getting the Rudge!

Rudge is a 1953.

Love the chainring on the Rudge; never seen that one before.

The Royal Prince looks exceptionally clean. Did you already go over it, or is that how the OO kept it?

I cleaned the Royal Prince. It wasn't too bad, but had dust, rust spots, and thick oil deposits that probably protected it. The guy I bought both from wasn't the OO, he buys up any thing he can find in our area, then flips them. I bought both for $70.00, good deal?

Thanks for date info. The hub is aluminum. So, would you suggest the Rudge before the Hercules?

Raleigh took over Hercules in 1960 but yours appears to be Birmingham made. That, the colour and the trigger suggests a late 50's Hercules.

The Rudge is a superior bike IMO. Worth a restoration. Great deal too

I believe the Rudge hand logo is based on the "Red Hand of Ulster".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Hand_of_Ulster

The Ulster thing makes it definitely more desirable to me!

Rudge, Rudge, Rudge !

Displaying my ignorance; why the Rudge? I know they made an interesting mark in the motorcycle world, but I didn't even know they ventured into bicycles, like Triumph.

Good luck, the Rudge is a find, been looking for one myself. E3Ss are fun to ride and while the purists do not call them English Racers they were certainly racier than the ballon tired bike the other kids had. And no, we were not so ignorant that we thought them actual racing machines.

I think the Rudge are sought after because they were higher end bikes, well made and relatively rare at least here in North America.

I like to set my E3S up a littler racier though than most with the bars tops well below the saddle crown. Feels good with better control and still very comfortable for viewing the countryside at gentle speeds.

I think my responses are more of a personal choice. I find them more interesting. Yes, they did have great machines as did many manufactures but when it came down to surviving, they did not.

I am am also that way about Dawes bicycles.

BTW, Rudge motorbikes.... Hot!

Looks like you will be riding the Herc while you do a complete work up on the Rudge. Slope chromed fork crown, awesome.