Hercules Aston Tourist

[biggs682]

Just back from collecting this 1955 Hercules Aston Tourist .

Full original spec ie 3 speed dynamo rear AG hub and working lights and green Hercules pump .

Reynolds 531 frame and clean paint apart from chain guard .

Apart from some damage to the guard's and one buckle missing from the saddle bag and a slight buckle / flat spot on the rear wheel it looks good .

 

[nonowt]

Nice! I had an Aston Club, it's sportier cousin.

I would have kept it had it been even close to being my size.

 

[Drago]

That'll buff up a treat.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Lovely, just lovely

I doubt I could let that go

 

[biggs682]

Nice! I had an Aston Club, it's sportier cousin.

I would have kept it had it been even close to being my size.

Seen a few of them but never local

 

[raleighnut]

Very nice

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

To my eyes, that looks like someone's going to work on bike, and if that's what it was used for, they must have been pretty keen to have paid for a 531 frame. Just look at the size of the saddlebag, it would give modern roadies a heart attack, plus having full mudguards!
Did it come from the original owner by any chance? Bits like pumps and lights always seem to go AWOL when a bike has been through multiple hands.
No Lycra or any other modern cycling garb allowed when riding something like this - it's against the law!

 

[biggs682]

@SkipdiverJohn no original owner worse luck , it came via a local house clearance person , so got no way of finding who it was either , such a shame as i reckon he would have been well proud riding it for sure .

Once i have sorted the rear wheel so i can apply the brakes , i will start giving it some tlc etc etc

Might even take it for a ride or two

 

[Cycleops]

Very nice Martin. You could get a small child in that saddle bag.

 

[biggs682]

After a bit of re shaping on the rear rim I took this for a gentle spin around the block .

In all fairness felt quite smooth everything worked as expected although a few adjustments and tightening up will be required .

 

[biggs682]

Well another circuit of local block completed minus the chain guard as the drive side crank was catching on it due to an incorrectly fitted bracket and it's a lot quieter now .

Also ran a screwdriver around the base of the crank teeth and took about a kilo of old grease and crud off it .

Also spotted a 3 speed hubbed 27" wheel in the garage so will be doing a dry fit of that hopefully over the weekend then the fun can begin

 

[biggs682]

Just been looking at this brochure

http://threespeedhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Hurcules-Catalog-1954-UK1.pdf

And in all fairness i don't think my one has undergone many changes

 

[biggs682]

10 minutes with some wet wipes and hey presto rims are shiny .

Just need a few more sessions and then off we go .

 

[biggs682]

Had a play with swapping the 26" rear wheel for a 27" one and found the frame number stamping 7123tv on the rear drop out .

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Are those celluloid mudguards I see? If so, I'm surprised they haven't disintegrated and been binned years ago!.
Looking good though, nice to see the survivors like this one from an era when bikes were bikes.