amf hercules
07-26-09 | 08:06 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9
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amf hercules
can anybody tell me about a bike. it has a three speed sturmey archer shifter and hub.the hub has the number 63 on it i'm trying to figure out age of bike.got it for 40 bucks the badge says birmingham england
Last edited by hobogestapo; 07-26-09 at 08:16 PM.
07-26-09 | 08:21 PM
#2
Fuji Fan
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,885
Likes: 338
From: Central IL
Bikes: Was Fuji and got my grails (Pro, Pro SR, Design Series, & Ti). Now I hunt 50's/60's road bikes.
They are good old bikes with little value. That is not to take away from the quality, but they are not "popular" now. You did well if you bought it for yourself...but if you bought it to flip, you won't make too much. I suppose that I could be wrong if you are in certain regions.
From what I have read is that the hub should give an estimate of when the bike was made. The 63 would be 1963. I think they were their own brand for a while, then sold to AMF, and then bought by Raleigh. Surely someone will correct me if I am wrong.
If you do a search, you should find a ton of info on this site.
From what I have read is that the hub should give an estimate of when the bike was made. The 63 would be 1963. I think they were their own brand for a while, then sold to AMF, and then bought by Raleigh. Surely someone will correct me if I am wrong.
If you do a search, you should find a ton of info on this site.
07-27-09 | 11:37 AM
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,918
Likes: 319
From: New York Metro Area
Probably will have more value if it has a larger 23" frame. Did this one come with a fairly uncomfortable two-tone "naugehyde" saddle? Does it still have the fenders and "hockey stick" chaingaurd? Black paint? They are a pretty standard English 3-speed, but a cut or two below the Raleigh Sports. The Raleigh Sports had the headlamp holder, Brooks leather saddle, frame pump, and nicer rims. The better the condition, the "hotter" the market, the more it is worth. The 26" x 1 3/8" tires and tubes are also pretty easy to get ahold of, which is a good feature.
07-27-09 | 11:44 AM
#5
You gonna eat that?
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,917
Likes: 543
From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
Bikes: 1966 Raleigh DL-1 Tourist, 1973 Schwinn Varsity, 1983 Raleigh Marathon, 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS
Raleigh bought Hercules in 1960. I thought by '63 they had moved production to Nottingham but maybe not. Is it an English Roadster/Tourist style? Mine is more of a cruiser style, believe it or not. It's got a 1960 SA AW hub and Hawthorne/Montgomery Ward Headbadge, but Hercules on the seat tube.
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