I am going to let you know what bikes I own and my mom owns as follows
1976 Schwinn blue 5 Speed Sting Ray
I want to say later 1980s or possibly 1990s Schwinn black Prelude I counted 7 gears in the back and 2 upfront so 14 speed maybe I missed on my count
My dad whose past away from cancer 5 years bought a Hawthorne Hercules at an auction probably in the 1980s or 1990s. I could not find a lot about this bike maybe made in England but I really am not sure.
My mom has a Columbia Open Road 3 Speed bought at an auction probably in the 1980s or 1990s. I do not know if it has one speed or more speeds. Hers is woman bike.
Regards,
rknarr2
Rob

I think the Hawthorne Hercules was sold through Montgomery Wards

As a kid in the mid '50s I lusted after the British Hercules with the holy grail upgrade of the Sturmey Archer 3 speed at Wards, insultingly my younger brother got one and was instantly faster than me.

5-speed Stingrays RULE. 😎

All three are cool bikes. I love Hercules bikes in particular.

Tell us more about the Prelude using 3 posts and then put up some pictures. We like pictures a lot! Don

I just picked up 3 bikes at a local auction for one dollar. One is a Hawthorne ladies bike that I think says Hercules but I'd have to look again, an Armstrong 3 or 5 speed made in England and a Murray F3 Eliminator 3 speed I think stingray type bike. All are pretty rusty and filthy. The Hawthorne is in the best shape.

+1

Whoa,
Are you going to restore that Schwinn or use it as a donor bike? Just asking no interior motive on my part
rknarr2

I think this British Hercules may have come from the 1950s. I will definitely take pictures and share them now that I am past 10 posts.
rknarr2

My blue sting ray 5 speed does not have the shifter on the frame its on the handle bars. I will show you a picture of my blue sting ray 5 speed.

The Schwinn Prelude was bought for me by my brother for Christmas. He had his own reasons in addition to giving me that bike.
He wanted me to not only ride it but go on rides with him. My brother was a graduate student at Penn University and I think was
one of the founding fathers of their bike team. I remember at one time they had his name as well as his friends names on their website
I thought. As I recall the first year the bike team was 2nd only behind Penn State and the following year was 1st in the eastern U.S.
I think he went to nationals one year but it was canceled due to the snow in the mountains. The following year I think he won short
bike race but I will not swear to it at nationals.
rknarr2

My 1976 blue sting ray 5 speed bike.

I like it!!!! A lot. 😎 I'll keep my eyes peeled, for one of those stick-shift levers, that goes on your top tube. You know, the ones that look like they should be in a car. But don't hold your breath, those must be hard to find, now. 😉

I am not looking for a stick shift lever because it does not belong on this bike. That shifter goes on an older model. Instead, the shifting on my 1976 is done with the shifter that shifts on the handle bars which is on this bike. Thank you anyways.
rknarr2

No problem. You'd know what belongs there better than I. 😉

I believe this Hercules of my dad's has the Sturmey Archer 3 speed upgrade. Its got a dark red and white from the manufacturer paint job. I will have to take some pictures and put them up to share soon.
rknarr2

Thank you for understanding.
rknarr2

Here are a couple pictures of my Schwinn Prelude

Schwinn Prelude looking forward in right direction


Schwinn Prelude looking forward in left direction

Has the wrong seat and missing front reflector or light on the handle bar.


Hercules Hawthorne looking forward right direction


Hercules Hawthorne looking forward left direction


Shurmay gear shifter

Columbia Open Road 3 speed looking in right direction


Columbia Open Road 3 speed looking in left direction


Gear shift not sure manufacturer
Here are some pics of my mom's Columbia bike

Nice Prelude. Not much wear showing. Ulterior motive or not, it is a nice ride. Don

You asked me to put up pictures of my Schwinn Prelude and then you want to take my words out of context from a response I made toward a different user for clarity of my motives and then try to use them against me. I will tell you this, my ulterior motive was transparent then as it is now. Neither time was I thinking of buying a bike from that person nor trying to sell my Schwinn Prelude to you. I did it because you asked me to put up pictures
.

Sorry...
You misunderstand me...I was not referring to you having motives. But to your brother, who "had his own reasons in addition to giving me that bike. He wanted me to not only ride it but go on rides with him." Never thought you were trying to sell, just wanted to encourage you riding it more. Don

Maybe giving reference to my brother would have helped me to stay on track. Sorry for the misunderstanding. rknarr2