1946 Hercules Royal Model C

[SirMike1983]

This will be the last project to be completed this year. I picked up a matching set of 1946 Hercules bicycles locally. The men's model is done, and the ladies will be the first project of 2016. My shop is a cinder block shed from the 1950s with no heat or running water, so winter work is very difficult. I suspect the ladies model will take awhile.

This is a Hercules Royal sub brand bike. The head badge has a decal of a rampant lion with "Royal" at the top and "Made in England" underneath the lion. The parts are Hercules parts. It originally had a Perry coaster marked 8-46 but I swapped in a 3 speed Sturmey Coaster from the 1960s to give some extra gearing options. It has a single rod front brake. It appears to be a Model C Safety roadster with a coaster brake variation on it. The US market heavily favored coaster brakes in 1946, so I suspect this imported to appeal to an American rider. It really is a little version of the traditional roadster- slack frame, but 26 inch wheels and a 21 inch frame rather than anything larger.

http://www.bikeshedva.blogspot.com/2015/12/final-project-of-2015.html

 

[bikecrazy]

Beautiful bike! Where do you get brake pads?

 

[SirMike1983]

The pads that came with them actually were relatively new, but I do have some Kool Stop pads as spares. Kool Stop makes both black and salmon pads for the loop base holders. Those could work for you. Just make sure you have the loop base rather than the square base pads.

Here's some on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Kool-Stop-Rounded-Philips-Holders/dp/B005FKP57S

 

[bulldog1935]

killer roadster

 

[bikecrazy]

Thanks for the info on the brake pads.

 

[SirMike1983]

It's hard not to want to ride this particular bicycle. It has the laid back frame of a traditional rod brake roadster, but in the smaller package that is closer to a Raleigh Dawn or Raleigh Sports. It's a neat combination of features.

From this evening:

 

[bulldog1935]

James Coburn pedaling to Spain in The Great Escape has always been my favorite mental image of bicycling

 

[SirMike1983]

I added a set of celluloid Apex brand grips, which really go well with this bike. Here are a few shots under a big, old Willow Oak. I love the extended daylight this time of year. Evening rides are great.

 

[Gasbag]

It is kind of nice seeing the older Hercules bikes getting some exposure lately. The poor quality and cheapening of the post Raleigh Hercules damaged the brands reputation. The side photos of your Hercules really demonstrates the slack frame angles that make these older models such pleasant bikes to ride.

 

[SirMike1983]

A brief look at vintage, 'hybrid' braking systems featuring the Hercules Model C and a 1940 Westfield Sports Roadster:

http://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/2016/06/hands-and-feet-hybrid-braking-set-ups.html