Velognome 

Not so sure. I've got an A type O hub and I've never seen any other #'s then 1,2 &3's meaning the hubs were only made for 3 years? Sounds like some confusion with SA date coding. Plus the stamp and lettering is entirely different for what would be a 1950 hub if that were the case.


The Hub came with this axle nut, the elongated viewing hole I'm told is something typical of 30's. Whats your nut look like?

KonAaron Snake 

Photo - call up Via and ask if they have the grips. If that works for you, I'll pick up and ship.

photogravity

Here's what the guy said because he saw the A Type 1 on this bike and then the A Type 9 on my other hub.

"B Type hubs started in 1953, and the date code (i.e.,'B Type 3') simply carried on! This usually causes a lot of confusion!!"

So it appears Hercules started the numbering for the A Type on 1943 and carried it through 1952, then started the B Type in 1953 and continued that until they ceased making them, assuming an end date of around 1960 or somewhere thereabouts when TI merged Raleigh into the fold.

I've attached a picture of the right nut, the dropout and my A Type 9. The nut looks different than on your bike - yours looks more like a SA nut to me. The dropout on my red Herc is like yours, though the one on my Herc Royal Prince is different. Finally, if you look at the picture of my A Type 9, you can see it is consistent with the A Type 0 on your hub. Then if you look at the A Type 1 on my red Hercules, that is when it appears they changed the stamping on the hub. Look up Mike Gerrish on Flickr, he seems quite the Hercules expert.


Hercules Lion Dropout and Right Side Nut - 2 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Hercules Lion Dropout and Right Side Nut - 1 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Hercules A Type 9 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr

photogravity

I'll try to ring them up tomorrow. If they have them, I'll let you know. Thanks Aaron!

Velognome 

Cool, so an A type O = 1950, correct?

photogravity

Going by what Mike Gerrish says, yes, 1950 would be correct. That is good information to know since most of us here on BF have been going on the assumption that there was no way to easily determine the vintage of Hercules hubs. This is assuming, of course, that Mike's information is correct.

Here are a couple hubs I found on ePay that bear out my theory. The first is an A Type 6 and has the stampings like my A Type 9 and your A Type 0. Then there is a B Type 3 which appears to be like my A Type 1 in appearance with the more verbose stampings on the shell. It's an interesting dating scheme, but seems sound based and logical once put into context.


herc_a_type_6 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


herc_b_type_3 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr

photogravity

BTW, Velognome, you need to show me some pics of your Herc. I'm very curious to see what it looks like compared to my Lion.

Velognome 

My Hercules Renown appears to be a mix of worn & missing parts, perhaps a young boy's quest for speed?

nick22

I do not know the date of this bike; have not found a serial number yet

The hub: A type 9

headbadge: made in Birmingham

photogravity

Now that is one *cool* bike! I actually find that the old worn paint adds to its beauty. How did that end up in your collection? That bike gets me nearly as stoked as the one I just bought! It puts me in mind of a path racer. WOW!

mkeller234

Nice bike Photogravity. Definitely worth a long drive.

photogravity

Thanks mkeller. Given the choice between visiting my mother-in-law and doing something bicycle related, bikes are going to win hands down. In any case, it is especially nice now I've managed to get a working shifter on the bike. I'm hoping the Her-cu-matic shifter shows up soon.

Velognome 

found it on CL and though it was kinda cool

I think what remains is the Bonderize undercoat!

photogravity

Going by the info received yesterday, that probably is a 1949 hub and likely the bike is from that year.

Would you mind providing a picture of the head badge, the rear dropouts and the chain guard?

photogravity

At the rate my bike is going, it'll be just like yours soon.

rhm

I am confused.

If the A-type started in 1943, were the 1943 hubs dated "A Type 1", or "A Type 3"?

photogravity

A 1943 hub would be A Type 3. An A Type 1 would be 1951. And yes, it is confusing.

nick22

photogravity

Nick, Looks like a very nice bike. Seeing the chainguard and headbadge up close, I think that it is consistent with a late 40's early 50's model. I really like the colour of the bike. If you go to the flickr Hercules Group, there are lots of examples of Hercules from that era. Here's the group page: https://www.flickr.com/groups/878553@N25/

What brand are the tires? I'd be interested to know if it still has a set of Dunlop tires installed on it, though based on the picture I don't think they're Dunlops. It is hard to tell from the angle of the picture.

Enders

Apologies for resurrecting such an old thread, but there is painful little information online about these hubs!

I have a Hercules B Type 2 hub (can’t add pic or link as I have to have 10 posts to do so and literally just joined to comment here)…so where does that put me? One of the first B Types off the line at end end of ‘52? February of ‘53 before the official transition to B Type in March?

TIA for any help.

Enders

Aaaaaaand I just figured it out. Feb ‘54. Still not unhappy I found this thread and posted here Great info!