---- ===== Hercules ===== Carl Marschütz started making bicycles in Nuremberg, Germany in 1884 at the age of 20, creating the Hercules brand in 1885 and founding Carl Marschütz & Co in 1886. In addition to bicycles, Marschütz started making electric cars & trucks in 1898 followed by motorcycles in 1904. In 1938 Germany's [[https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-nuremberg-race-laws|Nuremberg Racial Purity Laws]] forced the Marschütz family to emigrate to the USA, selling the company to a local doctor who made [[https://www.em-eukal.com/en/|cough drops]]. WWII saw the destruction of Nuremberg's factories after which Hercules was acquired by Triumph-Werke in 1948 and then Fichtel & Sachs AG in 1963, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannesmann|Mannesmann]] in 1987, ATAG Cycle Group in 1995, [[https://www.accell-group.com/en/home-2|Accell Germany]] and finally [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweirad_Einkaufs_Genossenschaft|ZEG]] in 2014. Carl Marschütz lived in retirement in Los Angeles until 1957. \\ Today a full range to Hercules bicycles are available from [[https://www.hercules-bikes.de]], built in Hungary and Asia. \\ Other Hercules bike manufacturers have existed alongside Hercules of Germany: * Hercules Cycle & Motor Co., of Birmingham, England : 1910 -> 2003 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_Cycle_and_Motor_Company|wikipedia]] * At one point they considered themselves the world's largest bike manufacturer, producing over 500,000/year in the 1930s. Not related to Nuremberg's Hercules. * Hercules Bicycles of India : 1951 -> today [[https://hercules.in]] * An off-shoot of Hercules, UK. \\ Resources: * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_(motorcycle)|wikipedia]] * [[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Marsch%C3%BCtz|de.wikipedia]] * [[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hercules_%28Fahrzeughersteller%29|de.wikipedia]] * [[https://herculesig.de/]] * [[https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/sfz58561.html|deautsche giographie]] * [[https://herculesmuseum.wordpress.com/hercules-werke-ag-nurnberg-germany/|herculesmuseum]] * [[http://www.nuernberginfos.de/bedeutende-nuernberger/carl-marschuetz-hercules.html|nuernberginfo]] * [[https://www.hercules-bikes.de]] * [[https://velobase.com/ViewBrand.aspx?BrandID=04fd4b49-8335-4e4c-acf5-4db2a8724044&From=T|velobase]] * [[https://www.nordbayern.de/drais-sei-dank-das-fahrrad-feiert-200-geburtstag-1.6229367|nordbayern]] {{factory.jpg?500|Marschütz's factory, ca. 1930.}} \\ Marschütz's factory, ca. 1930. [[https://www.nordbayern.de/drais-sei-dank-das-fahrrad-feiert-200-geburtstag-1.6229367|nordbayern]]
{{poster.jpg?360|Hercules-Werke, ca 1896}} \\ Hercules-Werke, ca. 1896 [[ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/478789004120085712/|pinterest]] \\ {{carl.png?400| Carl Marschütz and friends}} \\ Carl Marschütz, at left, ca. 1883. \\ [[https://artsandculture.google.com/story/OwWx8uNk0sdwKw|artsandculture.google.com]]
---- ===== 1984 MTB ===== Sachs Huret Rider v2 derailleur and shifters (1984+), Mannesmann tubing, bullmoose bars, drum brakes,
{{1984.jpg?300|1984 MTB }} \\ 1984 MTB [[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-17|mtb-news.de]]
---- ===== 1985 Uvex Sportstyle ===== Sachs Huret Rival 41.1D (1985), Magura brake levers, bullmoose bars, drum brakes, Uvex is a sporting components supplier from Fürth, Germany.
{{1985.jpg?300|1985 Uvex Sportstyle }} \\ 1985 Uvex Sportstyle [[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/hercules-classic-mountainbike-prototyp-1985-sachs-mtb-neu.887645/|mtb-news.de]]
---- ===== 1986 MTB Competition ===== Sachs-Huret Rival (1985-87) derailleurs, SunTour XC II pedals, Sachs drum brakes, Sachs-Huret "retro friction" shifters. Bullmoose bars.
{{1986.jpg?300|1986 MTB Competition }} \\ 1986 MTB Competition [[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/mtbs-vor-1985-galerie.370838/page-4|mtb-news.de]]
---- ===== 1987 MTB Special ===== Hybrid internal hub with derailleur gearing. Sachs Huret Rider type I rear derailleur (1984+) used merely as a chain tensioner in the rear. Sachs-Huret "retro friction" shifters. Fichtel and Sachs 5-speed Pentasport internal gear hub (1987+) with drum brakes controlled by two gear chains plus a brake cable. Bullmoose bars.
{{1987.jpg?300|1987 MTB Special }} \\ 1987 MTB Special [[ https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1985-hercules-mtb-special-inspiration-needed.304045/|retrobike]]
---- ===== 1988 MTB Competition ===== SunTour XCD6000 (1988-89), slingshot stem, rear pump peg, drum brakes.
{{1988.jpg?300|1988 MTB Competition }} \\ 1988 MTB Competition [[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/hercules-mtb.909517/|mtb-news.de]]
---- ===== 1989 Super Competition ===== SunTour XCD 6000 group (1988-89), extra chainguard, derailleur guard, TIG welded, cantilever brakes, 28.6 pounds. Pic from 1989 catalog.
{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Super Competition }} \\ 1989 Super Competition [[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/attachments/hercules-1989-ein-tag-fuer-hercules-pdf.1390625/|mtb-news.de]]
---- ===== 1990 MTB Special ===== Sachs Huret Rival Sport (1989-93?), Post Moderne suspension seatpost, Mavic rims, hub brakes.
{{1990.jpg?300|1990 MTB Special }} \\ 1990 MTB Special [[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-3|mtb-news.de]]
---- ===== 1991 California Pro ===== SunTour XC-Pro group and hubs (1989-92), Tange tubing, Post Moderne suspension seatpost, Mavic rims, cantilever brakes (1992 California Pros had hydraulic brakes.)
{{1991.jpg?300|1991 California Pro }} \\ 1991 California Pro [[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-13|mtb-news.de]]
---- ===== 1992 California Pro ===== Hydraulic Magura Hydro Stop brakes (1991-92 thus), Suntour XC-Pro (1989-92) group.
{{1992.jpg?300|1992 California Pro }} \\ 1992 California Pro [[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-21|mtb-news.de]]
---- ===== 1993 Diablo ===== Early carbon fiber frame. No decals and some modern upgrades. Shimano Deore DX derailleur and cranks (1991-93).
{{1993.jpg?300|1993 Diablo }} \\ 1993 Diablo [[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-25|mtb-news.de]]