53 Churchill / Hercules 3 speed hub
06-17-18, 02:26 PM
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53 Churchill / Hercules 3 speed hub
I am working on what I think is a 53 Churchill / Hercules roadster. The head badge says Churchill but many of the parts on it say Hercules. My big question is the 3 speed hub and how to service it. Is it a Sturmey / Archer clone? Is there any service information available for these? How about parts? The hub is marked Hercules B Type 3.
I want to service the hub and bearings and want to be fully informed before tearing into it.
Any help would be appreciated.
John in Texas
I want to service the hub and bearings and want to be fully informed before tearing into it.
Any help would be appreciated.
John in Texas
06-17-18, 07:35 PM
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According to Tony Hadland, “the author is not certain whether Hercules made their own hubs. One unconfirmed story is that they originally copied the AW but later found it cheaper to have Sturmey Archer badge engineer hubs for them....the similarity between the Hercules and Brampton changers suggests that perhaps Brampton made the Hercules three-speed”
in any event they they are not likely too different so start with an AW diagram and carefully start taking things apart and comparing!
in any event they they are not likely too different so start with an AW diagram and carefully start taking things apart and comparing!
06-18-18, 08:04 AM
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According to Tony Hadland, “the author is not certain whether Hercules made their own hubs. One unconfirmed story is that they originally copied the AW but later found it cheaper to have Sturmey Archer badge engineer hubs for them....the similarity between the Hercules and Brampton changers suggests that perhaps Brampton made the Hercules three-speed”
in any event they they are not likely too different so start with an AW diagram and carefully start taking things apart and comparing!
in any event they they are not likely too different so start with an AW diagram and carefully start taking things apart and comparing!
John in Texas
03-05-19, 02:39 AM
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Bikes: 1936 Raleigh Sports Tourists, 1952 Raleigh, 1957 Raleigh, 1963 Raleigh Dawn Tourist, 1953 Hercules Tourist, 1953 Hercules Royal Prince, 1953 Hercules Windsor, 1958 Bianchi Sport & 1960 Bianchi Sport
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Hi John,
If you would be more comfortable with a 1953 Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub, I would trade you mine for your Hercules B type 3 three speed hub. Please advise!
Thanks,
Arnie
If you would be more comfortable with a 1953 Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub, I would trade you mine for your Hercules B type 3 three speed hub. Please advise!
Thanks,
Arnie
03-05-19, 07:22 AM
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Much of what you'd like to know about the Hercules/Sturmey war can be found in this discussion.
03-11-19, 01:10 PM
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Right now this and my other projects are all on the back burner as I get a workshop built. I am going to take a pass on the trade but thank you for your kind offer.
I am more into vintage motorcycles and I am going to use the Churchill as a way to get around swap meets here in Texas and else where.
Thanks
John in Texas
03-11-19, 04:59 PM
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Hi John,
I have two 1953 Hercules bicycles. Both came with the B type 3 rear hub. One of my bikes has the Tourist head badge and the other has the Windsor head badge. Aside from the head badges and chain guards decal, the bikes are essentially the same! The Flamboyant Red is the major color with white spikes. Both bikes have all the same decals on the seat tubes down tube. I am presuming that your Churchill bike is simular! Below are some photos of the decals on the seat tube down tube and chainguard. I would like to see some photos of your bike.
Regards,
Arnie
I have two 1953 Hercules bicycles. Both came with the B type 3 rear hub. One of my bikes has the Tourist head badge and the other has the Windsor head badge. Aside from the head badges and chain guards decal, the bikes are essentially the same! The Flamboyant Red is the major color with white spikes. Both bikes have all the same decals on the seat tubes down tube. I am presuming that your Churchill bike is simular! Below are some photos of the decals on the seat tube down tube and chainguard. I would like to see some photos of your bike.
Regards,
Arnie
Last edited by usarnie1; 03-11-19 at 05:05 PM.
03-11-19, 06:14 PM
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Much of what you'd like to know about the Hercules/Sturmey war can be found in this discussion.
03-11-19, 06:18 PM
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I read that all caps post and frankly, I'm not buying it. There may have been a design that was passed over in favor of a licensing agreement, some feathers might have been ruffled, but the notion that the world was deprived of some vastly superior Hercules designed 3 speed hub by some Dr. Evil villain at Sturmey Archer sounds far fetched to me. In fact, I don't think Hercules manufactured any 3 speed hubs at all. The shifter designs strongly suggest Brampton was the actual manufacturer. That post reminds me of the 100mpg carburetor the oil companies were keeping secret from us in the 70s.Dirty deeds done dirt cheap!
The all caps thing does suggest rabies shots may be in order.
