mtb-timeline

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<div column 50% #intro>
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===== 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.
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Today a full range to Hercules bicycles are available from [[https://www.hercules-bikes.de]], built in Hungary and Asia.
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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.
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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.}}
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Marschütz's factory, ca. 1930.
[[https://www.nordbayern.de/drais-sei-dank-das-fahrrad-feiert-200-geburtstag-1.6229367|nordbayern]]

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{{poster.jpg?360|Hercules-Werke, ca 1896}}
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Hercules-Werke, ca. 1896
[[ https://www.pinterest.com/pin/478789004120085712/|pinterest]]
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{{carl.png?400| Carl Marschütz  and friends}}
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Carl Marschütz, at left, ca. 1883.
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[[https://artsandculture.google.com/story/OwWx8uNk0sdwKw|artsandculture.google.com]]

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<div column 50% #s1984>
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===== 1984 MTB =====
Sachs Huret Rider v2 derailleur and shifters (1984+), Mannesmann tubing, bullmoose bars, drum brakes,
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{{1984.jpg?300|1984 MTB }}
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1984 MTB
[[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-17|mtb-news.de]]
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<div column 50% #s1985>
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===== 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.
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<div column 45%>
{{1985.jpg?300|1985 Uvex Sportstyle }}
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1985 Uvex Sportstyle
[[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/hercules-classic-mountainbike-prototyp-1985-sachs-mtb-neu.887645/|mtb-news.de]]
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<div column 50% #s1986>
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===== 1986 MTB Competition =====
Sachs-Huret Rival (1985-87) derailleurs, SunTour XC II pedals, Sachs drum brakes,
Sachs-Huret "retro friction" shifters.  Bullmoose bars.
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<div column 45%>
{{1986.jpg?300|1986 MTB Competition }}
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1986 MTB Competition
[[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/mtbs-vor-1985-galerie.370838/page-4|mtb-news.de]]
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<div column 50% #s1987>
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===== 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.
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<div column 45%>
{{1987.jpg?300|1987 MTB Special }}
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1987 MTB Special
[[ https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1985-hercules-mtb-special-inspiration-needed.304045/|retrobike]]
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<div column 50% #s1988>
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===== 1988 MTB Competition =====
SunTour XCD6000 (1988-89), slingshot stem, rear pump peg, drum brakes.
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<div column 45%>
{{1988.jpg?300|1988 MTB Competition }}
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1988 MTB Competition
[[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/hercules-mtb.909517/|mtb-news.de]]
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<div column 50% #s1989>
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===== 1989 Super Competition =====
SunTour XCD 6000 group (1988-89), extra chainguard, derailleur guard, TIG welded, cantilever brakes, 28.6 pounds.
Pic from 1989 catalog.
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<div column 45%>
{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Super Competition }}
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1989 Super Competition
[[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/attachments/hercules-1989-ein-tag-fuer-hercules-pdf.1390625/|mtb-news.de]]
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<div column 50% #s1990>
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===== 1990 MTB Special =====
Sachs Huret Rival Sport (1989-93?), Post Moderne suspension seatpost, Mavic rims, hub brakes.

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{{1990.jpg?300|1990 MTB Special }}
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1990 MTB Special
[[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-3|mtb-news.de]]
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<div column 50% #s1991>
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===== 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.)
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<div column 45%>
{{1991.jpg?300|1991 California Pro }}
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1991 California Pro
[[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-13|mtb-news.de]]
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<div column 50% #s1992>
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===== 1992 California Pro =====
Hydraulic Magura Hydro Stop brakes (1991-92 thus), Suntour XC-Pro (1989-92) group.

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<div column 45%>
{{1992.jpg?300|1992 California Pro }}
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1992 California Pro
[[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-21|mtb-news.de]]
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<div column 50% #s1993>
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===== 1993 Diablo =====
Early carbon fiber frame.  No decals and some modern upgrades.
Shimano Deore DX derailleur and cranks (1991-93).
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<div column 45%>
{{1993.jpg?300|1993 Diablo }}
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1993 Diablo
[[ https://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/der-hercules-thread.677892/page-25|mtb-news.de]]
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