Hercules Tourist mens bike

[J-C-R]

Picked up this Hercules bike. I am having a hard time trying to locate info on it. I thought I would be able to locate something with the same decal on the chain guard but no luck. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[J-wagon]

Should be a date code on rear hub

 

[Oilit]

Picked up this Hercules bike. I am having a hard time trying to locate info on it. I thought I would be able to locate something with the same decal on the chain guard but no luck. Any help would be appreciated.

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Looks like a standard '50's Hercules, original and complete except for the seat and possibly the pedals. Probably has a Hercules hub marked B Type X, and the X will be the last digit of the year the hub was made, like "B Type 5" for 1955.

 

[jimbo53]

I have a 54 men’s Hercules Churchill De Luxe and a 53 ladies Hercules Churchill De Luxe with a similar filigreed chain case decal, except they say Churchill De Luxe. Hercules was founded in 1910 and was a huge manufacturer in its day. Here is a link to some background and history
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_Cycle_and_Motor_Company

 

[Oilit]

Hercules used that same decal with different names on many different bikes in the '50's. @neighbor posted a good close-up of the decal on a 1954 Hercules Royal Prince on the third page of this thread:

Hercules "royal Prince" Made In Birmingham. | Vintage Lightweight Bicycles

Hmm, just realized my 700cc road bike wheels fit the Rudge frame... might be a game changer!

thecabe.com

@BobH posted a good close-up of the chain guard decal on his bike on the second page of this thread:

52? Hercules Safety Model | International Bicycles

I didn't know that stamping would be the serial #. Good to know. Thanks. Looking back at images of my '53 Coronation model I see that it had the s n on the left drop out. 5 digits and then 2 letters I've seen a few with 5 digits, but most have 4 digits. What that means, I don't know. And most...

thecabe.com

And @usarnie1 posted one the same as yours on the second page of this thread:

1953 Hercules Tourist Queen Elizebeth II Coronation Celebration Bicycle | Vintage Lightweight Bicycles

I understand what 70 years will do to a one year production item ( I collect 1900- 20 record players and records)

thecabe.com

 

[J-C-R]

Thank you all for the info! looks like the hub says B type 6.