Originally Posted by PeterLYoung (Post 21457140)

That would be a very nice and generous thing to do. As one gets older we tend to reflect on our past and he would love to see his bike in its former glory and know when the time comes it will go to someone who will care for it. The gentleman who gave me the Humber Beeston Clubman is following my progress and I promised him I would take it to his home so he could see it restored and virtually as it was when he bought it in 1948. He gave it to me because he knew I would take care of it and I think the same applies in your case.

Originally Posted by usarnie1 (Post 21449295)

I thought I would share with you the prize of my bicycle collection. It is a near mint 1953 Hercules Windsor QEII coronation celebration bicycle. Aside from doing a re-spray to the chain guard, adding a replica Hercules Windsor sticker to it, installing a set of Michelin tires, thorn proof tubes, Brooks B66 leather Saddle & tool pouch, NOS Hungerford Supper jet hand grips, all new barrel adjusting cables & brake pads, NOS Hercules pedals, 3" bell, new air pump, Dual Miller headlights with modern LED bulbs installed, stem mounted concave rear view mirror, replica 1950s Space Patrol Terra IV space ship front fender stickers, QEII Coronation badge and a NOS Midland rear carrying rack. The remainder of the bike is mostly all original.

The bike originally came with only a single speed rear coaster brake and no hand controls. I changed all that back to stock using a Hercules B type rear hub, new 185mm spokes (trimmed down to 183mm), both caliper brakes, hand controls, brake cables and a Hercumatic 3 speed shifter with all the necessary hardware, cable and indicator chain.

I purchased this bike on E-bay. It was located in Rhode Island. I had a cousin of mine, who lives in Massachusetts, go pick it up and then ship it to me in California. The seller of this bike purchased it from a storage auction. Judging by the excellent condition of the paint and decals, I presume the bike spent many years, or decades, locked up in a storage facility. I won the e-bay auction with a bid of $55. Plus $100 for shipping. So far I have spent over $700 to add all the components to the bike as listed above.

I have 10 vintage European 3 speed bicycles in my collection and my Hercules Windsor is my favorite of all of them. The replica stickers were purchased from redbubble.com and all the other parts were purchased on e-bay. To me all the work and money spent on this bicycle was worth it.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...80de2eb7b3.jpg
1953 Hercules Windsor QEII Bicycle

Originally Posted by bluesteak (Post 21459190)

I am including photos of my 53 Hercules tourist. The original fork was unsafe, and took a fork from another Hercules. Is the paint scheme a one year only plan to celebrate the coronation on all their models.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...efef04a04.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cc0660208.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6bf216b52.jpeg

Originally Posted by bluesteak (Post 21459190)

I am including photos of my 53 Hercules tourist. The original fork was unsafe, and took a fork from another Hercules. Is the paint scheme a one year only plan to celebrate the coronation on all their models.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...efef04a04.jpeg

Originally Posted by usarnie1 (Post 21459876)

I think your bike originally came with black mud guards. However, your chrome mud guards look great on your bike. I would leave them on the bike, as they appear to be good looking and rust free.

Your black Hercules QEII bike is only the second one that I have ever seen in black! Your bike appears to be complete and all original. That alone will save you hundreds of dollars, if you restore it!

Tell me how you acquired your bike! Was it a local find? A craigslist find? An e-bay find? From the original owner? Was it passed down from a family member? What city and state was it located in?

Your Hercules pedals look near new! And your rims look to be free from any rust. I would straighten out the front fender stays!

Below is a photo of the other black Hercules QEII bicycle that was unsold on e-bay two years ago. Most of us call a vintage bike that is missing both the fenders and chain guard a beater bike! As such, the value of this bike is only as a parts bike! I would not attempt to restore a bike in this poor condition!

Regards,

Arnie in Woodland Hills, California


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f6ee3feda7.jpg
1953 Hercules Beater Bike

Originally Posted by gster (Post 21464409)

Still Out There
This popped up on Toronto Kijiji this morning.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8b59550f1d.jpg
The seller has it listed as a 73-74 but it's clearly an much earlier bike.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6935add5b7.jpg
The old style calipers, colour and 2030 sticker lead me to think it's mid 50's.
Perhaps the white fenders are a Canadian touch.
No asking price listed.

Originally Posted by Ged117 (Post 21464461)

This bike resembles my fiance's '56 Sports in many ways. The 2030 transfer, the Raleigh Sports font, and as you pointed out the brakes, and the white fenders. This is a very cool bike. If it were 23" I would be tempted to hide it away somewhere. I really like the colours available during this period. They really speak to the mid-50s era in North America, whereas my bike from 1950 is more '40s with its Superbe Green and general English reserved character.

Originally Posted by usarnie1 (Post 21464784)

This Toronto bike only needs new brake cables and a new Brooks B66 saddle to make it look spectacular! The pre 1966 pear shaped lead end, adjustable barrel cables, are available on e-bay. A used B66 saddle can also be found on e-bay. The remainder of the bike looks great!

Originally Posted by gster (Post 21464833)

I sent the seller a note to help him date it properly.

Originally Posted by BigChief (Post 21465320)

Yes, mid 50s lugs, top tube mounted guide wheel, original dual quill pedals, very nice. 1955-56 I figure. It would be better to have the original color on the mudguards. Or perhaps the originals were missing. Then, replacing them with freshly painted white ones makes good sense.

Originally Posted by gster (Post 21466326)

Here's another Kijiji listing
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8873659d44.jpg
A Huffy Monterey which appears to be Sturmey Archer equipped for $140.00
When I get home (I'm in Mexico) I'm seriously going to evaluate how many bikes
a person (me) actually needs.
We're living a very simple life here with few possessions and doing just fine.
I did buy a $30.00 guitar to pass the time....
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5c15b5ebff.jpg
I'll leave it behind when I go back.....

Originally Posted by gster (Post 21455710)

Looking forward to the progress.
I still think that my 1955 Humber Sports is a Club bike.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08b5b29482.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...29ca4c2178.jpg
Despite the 2030 tubing....
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...490e65dff3.jpg
Or maybe it was a standard model modified with EA1 rims after the fact...

Originally Posted by littlevikingca (Post 21467578)

Hi,

I'm not debating the "Club" label .

When I saw this on Kijiji last year, I thought it might be this model (from the 1952 Humber catalogue) as the Streak and Clipper both had 531 frames. The colours listed on page four included a number of "reds", Bright Red, Crimson and a Maroon. I had passed a scan of the catalogue onto the seller -perhaps he forwarded it to you?
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1c017e0377.png
Cheers,

Dave K