Table of Contents


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 Nuremberg Racial Purity Laws forced the Marschütz family to emigrate to the USA, selling the company to a local doctor who made 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, Mannesmann in 1987, ATAG Cycle Group in 1995, Accell Germany and finally 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:


Resources:

Marschütz's factory, ca. 1930.
Marschütz's factory, ca. 1930. nordbayern

Hercules-Werke, ca 1896
Hercules-Werke, ca. 1896 pinterest

 Carl Marschütz  and friends
Carl Marschütz, at left, ca. 1883.
artsandculture.google.com


1984 MTB

Sachs Huret Rider v2 derailleur and shifters (1984+), Mannesmann tubing, bullmoose bars, drum brakes,

1984 MTB
1984 MTB 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 Uvex Sportstyle
1985 Uvex Sportstyle 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 MTB Competition
1986 MTB Competition 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 MTB Special
1987 MTB Special retrobike


1988 MTB Competition

SunTour XCD6000 (1988-89), slingshot stem, rear pump peg, drum brakes.

1988 MTB Competition
1988 MTB Competition 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 Super Competition
1989 Super Competition mtb-news.de


1990 MTB Special

Sachs Huret Rival Sport (1989-93?), Post Moderne suspension seatpost, Mavic rims, hub brakes.

1990 MTB Special
1990 MTB Special 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 California Pro
1991 California Pro mtb-news.de


1992 California Pro

Hydraulic Magura Hydro Stop brakes (1991-92 thus), Suntour XC-Pro (1989-92) group.

1992 California Pro
1992 California Pro mtb-news.de


1993 Diablo

Early carbon fiber frame. No decals and some modern upgrades. Shimano Deore DX derailleur and cranks (1991-93).

1993 Diablo
1993 Diablo mtb-news.de