Hercules Bike 1920's??

[The Junkologist]

I really doubt that it's of English origin. English bikes just have that "look" that tells you it's an English bike. I don't think this bike could look any more American than it does. I'm sure the Hercules name was just a brand that Luetkemeyer sold. Unless an old catalog or something shows up, we may never know the story...I would love to find a Luetkemeyer catalog!

 

[Wing Your Heel]

Hercules Museum

Hi,

I recently set up an online Hercules museum -

http://herculesmuseum.wordpress.com/

Though I've not seen one before that looks like this, Hercules had a healthy export market to USA and built frames for many companies, so yours could be a re-badged Brit. But I've not yet discovered if bikes were also built under license from the German Hercules company? (No connection with British Hercules).

Early (British) Hercules bicycles are rare now in UK. Though by the thirties they claimed to be the world's top cycle manufacturer, a high proportion were exported, and many more were sold unbadged to other well-known companies to add their own badges. eg I believe all the BSA's of one year were actually Hercules.

With your permission, I'd like to add the two photos of your Hercules to the museum website (quoting its source)

One thing intrigues me - I would have thought that Hercules Corp, Indiana or later Hercules Motor Co. of Canton, OH would have had copyright on the name in the USA?

Happy new year,

Colin

 

[The Junkologist]

Hi Colin,
I'm no bike expert, but I have seen enough old bikes to say with reasonable confidence that this bike is not British. It follows the American motobike form very closely, if not exactly. I think Hercules was more than likely Luetkemeyer's house brand name for the bikes they sold. This bike has a New Departure model A coaster brake hub. Wouldn't a British bike have some kind of British made hub?
Feel free to use the photos any way you like. Here's a better photo I took the other day.

 

[sensor]

im inclined to agree with mr. junkologist on it being u.s. made. most of the motor bikes(english) that ive seen have had lugged frames(i am by no means an expert on this just what ive noticed) and usually had clincher wheels
and thanks for posting the video of your bike

 

[Wing Your Heel]

Hercules Stump Puller

Thanks, Mike. The Luetkemeyer Hercules is a great addition to the museum site. You're right, it does look totally American. I'm just surprised they used the name Hercules, what with imported British ones and also the American Hercules companies owning US copyright.

By the way, did you get any sensible responses from the Smokestak forum? I noticed there was a 'Horse-Powered Hercules Stump Puller' on there, and I hoped you hadn't converted your bicycle to qualify for posting on the farm machinery forum

 

[The Junkologist]

Unfortunately, nothing came of the Smokstak post. I'm kind of surprised. That's my main hangout on the web and there are many people there like me who have many antique interests, besides engines.

Don't worry. I'll never convert the bike into a stump puller!:eek:

 

[sm2501]

How about some detail photos of your bicycle? I would like to see closeups of the headset, top and bottom of the fork truss rods and the serial number. Maybe that will give us some clues, but I agree that this is a US built bicycle.

 

[The Junkologist]

Here you go.

 

[The Junkologist]

Some more photos. In the serial number photo there is "272" with "E P D" upside down underneath it.

 

[dave the wave]

it looks Davis made

its got the ext.handle bar neck,forged truss fork,early ND hub,bayonett crank.its american made Davis Sewing Mach.Co.and circa.mid teens.that be my guess.