Help me Date this Hawthorn Hercules?
01-27-10, 02:48 PM
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Help me Date this Hawthorn Hercules?
I bought this Hercules off CraigsList.
It has the Camelback frame, and the Birmingham badge, but I'm not sure what year it is. I would also like to find a replacement to the chainguard, which might be too rusty to restore, but first I really want to figure out the year.
Any thoughts?
It has the Camelback frame, and the Birmingham badge, but I'm not sure what year it is. I would also like to find a replacement to the chainguard, which might be too rusty to restore, but first I really want to figure out the year.
Any thoughts?
01-27-10, 02:56 PM
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Anything from 1960 on is going to be Raleigh (technically Tube Industries), try to find a date code on something, maybe the rear hub.
That chainguard came on the AMF Hercules, which were Raleigh.
That chainguard came on the AMF Hercules, which were Raleigh.
01-28-10, 10:05 AM
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I have a serial number, but nothing that immediately tells me the date. I also found a photo of a 1964 in the same color, with the same chainguard, but not the Camelback frame.
But the badging says Birmingham, England, which implies that it's from before the merger?
I plead confusion.
But the badging says Birmingham, England, which implies that it's from before the merger?
I plead confusion.
01-28-10, 10:35 AM
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Does the S-A rear hub have any numbers stamped on it, such as 64 8, or 58 6?
01-28-10, 10:45 AM
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It's basically the same thing as a Raleigh Space Rider.
Here's a page from '78 (yours is certainly older though, judging by a number of things)
Here's a page from '78 (yours is certainly older though, judging by a number of things)
01-28-10, 12:36 PM
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Similar but I wouldn't say it's the same thing. On the Hercules the top tube arc is much more pronounced, the down tube is S shaped, and the seat stays are curved near the seat cluster. Also, IMO, the chain guard is a lot cooler on the Hercules.
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