Oilit
Cruisin' on my Bluebird
I know Hercules bikes are hard to date to a specific year, but I believe this one is pre-war, just because the only other "Hercules Sports Model" I could find on here is definitely pre-war: https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/hercules-sports-model.96604/
Unfortunately, this one doesn't have the original wheels, they've been replaced at some point with 26 x 1.375 rims with U.S. Royal Touring tires marked "Fits American Hooked Edge Rims". Sheldon Brown says these were used on "Very Old U.S. Lightweights". The wheels in the pictures are the as-found front wheel with a Schwinn tire and a Schwinn rear just to get it rolling.
There's no marks to indicate this bike was ever a three speed, and looking at the Veteran-Cycle Club on-line library, there doesn't seem to be a specific "Hercules Sports Model" but rather a group, which makes me think these all used the same frame with different fittings according to the specific model, but I could be wrong. The head badge looks like some kind of translucent plastic sheet backed by metal foil as a reflector and a brass ring as a frame, does anyone know the years Hercules used this type of badge? And what would be appropriate wheels if I ever find any? (I have some modern aluminum ones that will get it rideable). And what is the tab on the left rear seat stay for? And have you ever seen a rear fender modified like this? It's neat enough that it could be factory, but I can't see any reason the factory would do this.
The man I bought this from got it from his boss for helping clean out his parents house. The bosses' dad was in England during WWII, so this could have been bought there and brought back. I'll be glad to hear any insights you have. Thanks.
Unfortunately, this one doesn't have the original wheels, they've been replaced at some point with 26 x 1.375 rims with U.S. Royal Touring tires marked "Fits American Hooked Edge Rims". Sheldon Brown says these were used on "Very Old U.S. Lightweights". The wheels in the pictures are the as-found front wheel with a Schwinn tire and a Schwinn rear just to get it rolling.
There's no marks to indicate this bike was ever a three speed, and looking at the Veteran-Cycle Club on-line library, there doesn't seem to be a specific "Hercules Sports Model" but rather a group, which makes me think these all used the same frame with different fittings according to the specific model, but I could be wrong. The head badge looks like some kind of translucent plastic sheet backed by metal foil as a reflector and a brass ring as a frame, does anyone know the years Hercules used this type of badge? And what would be appropriate wheels if I ever find any? (I have some modern aluminum ones that will get it rideable). And what is the tab on the left rear seat stay for? And have you ever seen a rear fender modified like this? It's neat enough that it could be factory, but I can't see any reason the factory would do this.
The man I bought this from got it from his boss for helping clean out his parents house. The bosses' dad was in England during WWII, so this could have been bought there and brought back. I'll be glad to hear any insights you have. Thanks.