1955 Hercules barn find.
12-13-18, 02:00 PM
#1
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1955 Hercules barn find.
Out on the job this morning I picked up this Hercules.
Bent fork and rust.
The SA rear hub says 55 and I assume that means 1955.
Any ideas about the model?
Was this a decent bike for the day?
Can the fork be easily straightned?
I am not really ready for a new project but it was a cool unexpected find.
12-13-18, 03:28 PM
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The hub is december 55. The rest looks like a big project. Cool if ur up to it.
12-13-18, 03:33 PM
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Interesting bike. The Birmingham head badge clearly indicates that it is a pre-1960 bike. I had assumed that Hercules used their own-named hub brand (these were basically Sturmey AWs manufactured by Hercules under license) until they were acquired by TI in 1960, but yours is clearly branded Sturmey. I wonder if those are replacement wheels? The reflectors would not have been installed originally. Other things were probably replaced: Brakes - those centerpulls and levers would not have appeared on an 1955 Hercules and the quill stem looks a bit odd. Pedals and saddle are replacements too. It's a bit difficult to determine the model but here's a link to the 1955 catalog so you can compare.
Personally, I would not spend a lot on a restoration. Forks maybe could be straightened, but I'm not sure it would be worth the money. If the rust on the frame doesn't seem structural, you may want to see if you can get it reasonably rideable but even that may be too much of an adventure.
Good luck and let us know of any progress
Personally, I would not spend a lot on a restoration. Forks maybe could be straightened, but I'm not sure it would be worth the money. If the rust on the frame doesn't seem structural, you may want to see if you can get it reasonably rideable but even that may be too much of an adventure.
Good luck and let us know of any progress
12-13-18, 04:45 PM
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I had one of those, also a very similar Armstrong, which I converted to a 12-speed with a Cyclo 4-cog block and long axle. I thought mine was in rough shape. 
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
12-13-18, 04:50 PM
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If the hub/ wheel is original from 10/1955 then I would think it is actually a 1956 model. That seems to be the era for the 3d head badge. For certain the brakes are a replacement. One lever is dia-compe and the other says Cherry..... I have never herd of Cherry brakes.
One thing I noticed, most of the models from the 55 catalog have pump pegs. This one does not.
I am sure fascinated by the thing and may spend some time over the holidays evaluating it.
I sure appreciate the comments!
One thing I noticed, most of the models from the 55 catalog have pump pegs. This one does not.
I am sure fascinated by the thing and may spend some time over the holidays evaluating it.
I sure appreciate the comments!
12-13-18, 04:54 PM
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What size are the wheels? They don't look wide enough to be EA3 and it may have been a drop bar road bike with a wheel swap. Also, the 3 speeds Sports from Birmingham usually had oval cut outs on the lugs.
Last edited by clubman; 12-13-18 at 05:04 PM.
12-13-18, 05:06 PM
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I have a fork to straighten in the project queue and saved this pic by @SJX426 as one quick ‘n dirty method. Granted, my use is on a trainer and it won’t ever see the road. Whether or not that’s advised in your case I’ll leave up to you and the peanut gallery! I’m not sure I’d trust it. Given how far out yours seems to be from the pic, I’d chat with @gugie - he’s got a good rig & experience. And I’d maybe look at a replacement w/ close enough geometry, but I tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to this type of thing.
it does look like a fun bike.
Last edited by Sir_Name; 12-13-18 at 05:17 PM.
12-14-18, 02:54 PM
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I had good luck straightening the fork.
I believe that most of what looks like rust is actually dirt!
I believe that most of what looks like rust is actually dirt!
12-14-18, 02:56 PM
#9
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Straight fork!
12-14-18, 05:59 PM
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Wow, that looks better! What was your method?
12-14-18, 07:46 PM
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I sandwiched the bent area of the fork in between blocks of wood. Clamped all to the hand rail In the photos. I then used a 2x4 that was wedged underneath the fork to bend it up from the handrail it was clamped to. It seemed to work pretty well!
12-14-18, 08:02 PM
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I use the same method as the picture above. I'll add that I also do some fine tweeking to the individual legs if needed. I use two pieces of threaded rod the same size as the axle and 4 nuts. I clamp a rod in each dropout with the nuts and leave a small gap between them in the middle of the two fork legs. Then I can make small adjustments until the two threaded rods line up if they are misaligned.
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