Hercules (vehicle manufacturer)

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Nuremberg Hercules Werke GmbH

logo
legal form Company with limited liability
founding April 5, 1886 (as the Carl Marschütz & Co. velocipede factory )
Seat Nuremberg , Germany
Branch Bicycle manufacturer , automobile manufacturer

RM 100 share in Hercules-Werke AG from Nuremberg, February 1928

Hercules is a German bicycle brand from Cologne that belongs to the ZEG and has a sales office in Cloppenburg . At the beginning of 2014, Hercules was taken over by the ZEG . The brand goes back to the bicycle and motor vehicle manufacturer Hercules , originally based in Nuremberg . The production facility was an essential part of the former Nuremberg motorcycle industry and was taken over by Sachs Fahrzeug- und Motorentechnik GmbH in 1995 , but given up in 2004.

Bicycles brand "Hercules" are since 2003 in the Hungarian Tószeg ( small area Szolnok built) and in Asia. Hercules launched the first e-bike in 1985.

history

Hercules brand logo in the 1960s
"Auto Velo" folding bike, intended as a camping accessory
Case for stowing the Hercules Auto Velo

The company was founded by Carl Marschütz (* 1863 in Burghaslach , † April 19, 1957 in Los Angeles ) on April 5, 1886 as the Carl Marschütz & Co. velocipede factory in Bleichstraße in Nuremberg. After the founder's brother, Heinrich Marschütz, joined the business as commercial director, it operated as the Nuremberg Velocipede Factory Hercules from 1887 . The company grew quickly. As early as 1888, production had to move to Fürther Straße 61 for reasons of space . In 1890 there were 75 employees who produced 1,000 bicycles; four years later there were already twice as many producing 4,700 bicycles. In 1895 a newly built company site at Fürther Strasse 191–193 could be moved into. In 1896 Hercules employed about 250 workers and produced 6,500 bicycles. In 1897 the company was converted into a public limited company.

From 1905 to 1907 Hercules also briefly manufactured motorcycles . It was not until 1928 that it was worthwhile to build motorcycles again, since in the German Reich there was no driving license or tax obligation for motorcycles under 200 cc. Hercules has always installed third-party motors in the chassis. When Fichtel & Sachs (F & S) in Schweinfurt started manufacturing engines in 1930 , they were immediately used at Hercules. The collaboration with Fichtel & Sachs has been in the bicycle segment since the beginning of the century and a. was very tight because of the torpedo freewheel hub . Hercules established itself in the market segment of light motorcycles up to 200 cm³ and bicycles with auxiliary motors.

The National Socialists ended Carl Marschütz's career. He was Jewish and had to emigrate to California - the Hercules factories were " Aryanized ". The Marschütz brothers had to sell their shares far below their value.

During the Second World War , 75 percent of the Hercules factory was destroyed by the air raids on Nuremberg . The Americans ordered the remaining tools and machines to be dismantled and sold abroad. Bicycle production could only be resumed on a modest scale in 1946. Since 1949 motorcycles were also produced again. Dresdner Bank became the new owner of the plant . In 1956 the Hercules works were taken over by the Fürth Grundig Group , but two years later they were acquired by Fichtel & Sachs AG through front men . Since rival companies also used the F&S engines, the incorporation into the Sachs Group remained secret until 1962/63. In 1965, F & S also acquired the Zweirad-Union ( DKW , Express and Victoria ). Hercules' moped production was initially relocated to the former factory of the Zweirad-Union at Nopitschstrasse 70 in Nuremberg; later this became the headquarters of the Nuremberg Hercules Werke GmbH . Since then, when the brand name “Hercules” was not allowed to be used, the sales names “Sachs” or “DKW” were used abroad. From 1993 to 1996 Hercules sold scooters manufactured by Peugeot under its own name.

From 1987 to 1991, Mannesmann took over the Fichtel & Sachs Group. The Hercules bicycle division was sold to the Dutch ATAG Cycle Group in 1995/96 together with the “Hercules” brand. The production of bicycles in Nuremberg came to an end, the brand was used by Accell Germany GmbH until 2014. In 1997/98 Fichtel & Sachs stopped producing engines. The former motorcycle production of Hercules was renamed "Sachs Fahrzeug- und Motorentechnik" and in 1998 sold to the Dutch Whinning Wheels Group (Koch-Kleeberg Group). In 2001 a group of Hercules managers bought what was left of the company, which has been using the brand name “Sachs Bikes” ever since. In 2004, the production site in Nopitschstrasse was cleared, and since then production has been predominantly in China using Honda engines. Only development and sales are located in Nuremberg. In October 2008 the company was changed to "SFM GmbH".

In 2014, ZEG bought the rights to the Hercules brand from the Accell Group .

Truck production

Hercules built trucks with electric engines from 1898 and with combustion engines from 1905 . Models were offered with a payload of 1.25 to 3 t with engines developed in-house. From 1912 trucks were also built with both chain and cardan drives. At the beginning it was a light truck with a combustion engine and a payload of up to 1.25 t, which was designed as a city vehicle. According to a letter on the offer from 1909, the truck had a two-cylinder engine with 14 hp, which allowed a top speed of 18-20 km / h. This model cost 7,000 marks and the additional price for double ignition (magnet and battery) was 200 marks. Heavier models for 3 to 4 t payload soon followed. After that, truck construction grew into an important subsidiary of the company. Bicycles have always been the main product over the years.

How the construction of trucks expanded was shown not only in the construction of a new hall, but also in price list no. 111 from 1916. No fewer than 6 basic models with engines between 22 and 44 hp and a load weight of 1, 5 to 5 t were on offer. Body superstructures were mounted on this chassis according to the wishes of the buyer. The price list mentioned showed 36 different versions with illustrations. There were variations for all wishes and purposes, including trucks for the Royal Bavarian Post. There were also special medical vehicles in the program. After the First World War , truck production had little success and had to be stopped when the economic crisis began in 1928.

Car production

Between 1932 and 1937 one was in small numbers tricycle -Zweisitzer with a built-in motor of ILO 200 cc engine capacity produced. The vehicle could be driven without a license and was exempt from vehicle tax.

A second source confirms the construction of such vehicles. Accordingly, only prototypes were made in 1932 . Production ran from 1933 to 1934. Four vehicles were registered in 1935 and one more in 1936. The Ilo engine was a single-cylinder two-stroke engine with a displacement of 198 cm³ and an output of 5.5 hp . A larger engine with a displacement of 250 cc was available for an extra charge. It was mounted in the rear and drove the single rear wheel. The wheelbase was 228 cm, the track width 123 cm and the curb weight 348 kg.

Another source states that tricycles were presented at the 1933 IAMA . They had Ilo engines with 200 cm³ and 250 cm³ displacement.

Two-wheeler production

Hercules bike from the 1970s

In addition to bicycles, Hercules was known for the manufacture of motorized two-wheelers in the displacement classes up to 250 cm³, whereby the two-stroke engines were mostly obtained from Fichtel & Sachs . Hercules was very successful on the West German market in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The model program began at 50-cm³- mopeds and - mopeds , went through two-seater moped and mopeds up to light motorcycles. The modular principle practiced at Hercules meant the production of only a few basic types using motors from the parent company Fichtel & Sachs. Classically, there were initially fan-cooled moped motors with cranks or kick starters, which were used with two-speed and three-speed draw - key gears to drive mopeds and mopeds, and High-performance three- and four-speed engines to drive the mopeds without speed restrictions. After the takeover of Zweirad Union in 1965, very similar vehicle models were produced there under the brands DKW , Express and Victoria .

Hercules bike - Hercules 2000 from 1959

Mopeds and mokicks

Hercules Type 219 (1958)

Moped production began in 1953 with the 213 type . At the end of the 1950s, mokicks appeared, which were equipped with an engine with a maximum output of 2.6 hp and three-speed and four-speed transmissions. In parallel to the fast mopeds, versions with reduced power and a top speed limited to 40 km / h remained available from the 1960s, which were referred to as moped or mokick, depending on the starting mechanism. The power limitation was achieved through different cylinders (duct cross-sections, etc.), lower compression, different exhaust systems, smaller carburettors, sometimes different transmissions (only three or four instead of five gears) and shorter final ratios. Thanks to the modular system, most of the vehicles could be made faster, "fudged". Some mokicks achieved engine powers and speeds that approached the open 50s. Many conversions were of course unprofessional handicrafts, often even technically incorrect (e.g. removal or perforation of the silencer, air filter, etc.). They increased wear and tear, but above all the noise level, which increased the public's rejection of the “smelly, crackling mopeds”. Such unlawful conversions led to the loss of insurance cover during controls and after accidents, recourse claims and possibly other problems, e.g. B. because of driving without a license or without registration. Politics criminalized the youthful backyard tinkerers ("pinion crime") and demanded from the industry to manufacture "unmanageable" vehicles.

Hercules also had small scooters on offer, but these were purchased products. The scooter 50 , on offer from 1964–1978, was built by KTM . The later model Hercules CV 50/80 was identical to the Peugeot models and was from Yamaha .

“Open mopeds” and light motorcycles

The "open moped" Hercules K50 Ultra (1977)

From 1959 Hercules had a 3.4 hp, fan-cooled small motorcycle in its range with the 220K . In 1963 the wind-cooled K50 followed, which at that time had a moderate 4.5 HP output. The notorious arms race of the manufacturers of small motorcycles ensued, which resulted in ever increasing engine power and top speed. At that time referred to as open small motorcycles , these vehicles are now classified as light motorcycles . The development peaked for the time being in 1972 with an official 6.25 hp, whereby the series vehicles were sometimes above this figure. The Hercules K50 Ultra (chassis no. 685 ...) was the first small motorcycle on the market in 1977 with a double disc brake on the front wheel. The last version was produced with water cooling and a six-speed gearbox under the designation Ultra 50 (without "K", chassis number 687 ...). They were available in air and water-cooled versions, with double and single-disc brakes. In contrast to the 80 cc light motorcycles (80 km / h, 6000 rpm), the "open 50s" were not legally limited in top speed or engine speed. The engine of the Hercules model Ultra 50 RS , built from 1981 , developed 8.3 hp. Despite efforts by the manufacturers (e.g. liquid cooling, see Hercules K 50 Ultra LC to Ultra 50, Zündapp KS 50 watercooled, KTM RLW 50 and others), there were constructive limits to the noise reduction of these high-performance two-stroke engines. In addition, improper interventions were popular with the young drivers to make the vehicles louder. Noise pollution and the alarmingly skyrocketing number of accidents, as well as correspondingly high insurance premiums, led to new legal regulations that economically meant the end of this vehicle class. The last "open 50s" were produced in 1983.

Hercules reacted and produced light motorcycles according to the new legal regulation with 80 cc. In the 1980s, however, this special German market for light motorcycles also fell sharply, as the insurance premiums were very high here too. The "Hercules CV 80" model was identical to the "Yamaha CV 80" model. The last vehicle with the designation Ultra was the Ultra 80 (chassis number 686 ...).

Mopeds

Hercules Prima 5S, built in 1991

The moped division established itself as a further pillar of Hercules from 1965 onwards, which quickly became extremely popular thanks to the freedom to drive at the time. The previous fan-cooled motors were soon replaced by those with airflow cooling with horizontal cylinders and cranks. These motors with one-way automatic centrifugal force or manual two-speed transmission were also installed in the moped models up to 40 km / h. At the beginning of the 1970s, Hercules even brought out a moped (E 1 Accu bike) with an electric drive (750 W at 3600 rpm), which was almost unsuccessful. The moped boom dried up due to new legal regulations at the beginning of the 1980s. Since the market for mopeds collapsed at the same time, this marked a turning point for Hercules as a whole, from which the company could no longer recover. The sales figures have since declined sharply. This was increasingly related to very inexpensive competing products from the Far East. In 2004, the production of motorized German Hercules two-wheelers was finally phased out, and the Hercules Prima 4/5 / SACHS Prima and Hercules Optima 50 / SACHS Optima 50 mopeds were manufactured last . After Simson ceased production in 2002, Hercules, the last major German manufacturer of small motorcycles, left the company.

motorcycles

Hercules Wankel 2000

In the 1950s Hercules had various motorcycles - also with two-stroke engines - up to 250 cc in its range. From 1956 the K 100 was produced with a three-speed gearbox and 5.2 HP with a displacement of 98 cm³. With the type K 103 from 1962, among other things, an increase in output to 7.0 hp took place. From 1970 followed with the K125 series two-stroke engines with five gears and initially 15, from 1973 then 17 hp (6-speed variant) from a displacement of 125 cm³. The army bought from 1970 Kradmeldermaschinen Hercules: This was the leistungsgedrosselte terrain version K 125 BW "Military" , which was built up in 1990 and replaced 180 BW of the manufactured until 1996 K. Production of the regular version of the K 125 had already ended in 1979. Various off-road sports machines (GS) were also derived from the series.

Some "hobby tuners" built the larger engine of the 125 series in a Mokick frame (design-specific maximum speed 40 km / h), at top speeds of up to 140 km / h. Because of the strictly adhered to modular principle, the same connection dimensions of the motors and chassis made this possible without any assembly problems. Such vehicles have been issued after official confiscations in various police museums, u. a. In Dusseldorf.

A special technical feature was the first Wankel motorcycle built in series from 1974 to 1981 , the Hercules W 2000 , which was created using a modified snowmobile engine . However, it did not sell well, only 1780 copies were built.

gallery

Overview of types produced (selection)

Surname Type Construction period cylinder transmission Displacement power Top
speed
312 Motorcycle 1952 1 3-speed foot switch 123 cc 6 hp 75 km / h
313 Motorcycle 1952 1 4-speed foot switch 147 cc 6.5 hp 80 km / h
314 Motorcycle 1952 1 4-speed foot or manual gearshift 173 cc 8.5 hp 85 km / h
315 Motorcycle 1952 1 4-speed foot switch 247.5 cc 11 hp 110 km / h
316 Motorcycle 1954-1955 1 2-speed manual transmission 98 cc 3 hp 60 km / h
220 K Moped 1960 1 3-speed manual transmission 48 cc 3.2 hp 65 km / h
MF3 moped 1972-1974 1 2-speed manual transmission 47 cc 1.1 kW (1.5 PS) 25 km / h
M2 moped 1 1-speed automatic 50 cc 1.1 kW (1.5 PS) 25 km / h
M4 moped 1 1-speed automatic 50 cc 1.1 kW (1.5 PS) 25 km / h
M5 moped 1 2-speed manual transmission 50 cc 1.1 kW (1.5 PS) 25 km / h
Great 2 moped 1 1-speed automatic 50 cc 1.1 kW (1.5 PS) 25 km / h
Great 3 moped 1 2-speed manual transmission 50 cc 1.1 kW (1.5 PS) 25 km / h
Great 4 moped 1 1-speed automatic 50 cc 1.1 kW (1.5 PS) 25 km / h
Great 5 s moped 1 2-speed manual transmission 50 cc 1.1 kW (1.5 PS) 25 km / h
Great GT moped 1 3-speed manual transmission 50 cc 1.15 kW (1.6 HP) 25 km / h
Optima 3 moped 1 2-speed manual transmission 50 cc 2.2 kW (2.9 PS) 50 km / h
MK1 / MK2 Mokick 1974-1979 1 3- or 4-speed foot switch 50 cc 2.2 kW (2.9 PS) 40 km / h
W 2000 Motorcycle 1974-1979 Rotary engine 6-speed foot switch 294 cc 25-27 hp 140 km / h
Supra 4 GP Mokick 1978-1983 1 4-speed foot switch 50 cc 2.2 kW (2.9 PS) 40 km / h
Hercules SB 1 / SB 5 Moped 1971-1977 1 5-speed foot switch 50 cc 4.3 kW (5.3 PS) 78 km / h
K50 SE / RE Moped 1973-1974 1 5-speed foot switch 50 cc 4.6 kW (6.25 PS) 85 km / h
K50 Ultra LC Moped 1977-1988 1 5-speed foot switch 50 cc 4.6 kW (6.25 PS) 85 km / h
K50 Ultra II LC Moped 1979-1980 1 5-speed foot switch 50 cc 4.6 kW (6.25 PS) 85 km / h
Ultra 80 AC Light motorcycle 1982-1983 1 5-speed foot switch 80 cc 6.0 kW (8.1 PS) 80 km / h
Ultra 80 LC Light motorcycle 1981-1983 1 5-speed foot switch 80 cc 6.3 kW (8.5 PS) 80 km / h
RX 9 Light motorcycle 1982-1989 1 5-speed foot switch 80 cc 6.6 kW (9.0 PS) 80 km / h
XE 9 Enduro 1984-1989 1 5-speed foot switch 80 cc 6.3 kW (8.3 PS) 80 km / h
K 125 Military Motorcycle 1969-1991 1 5-speed foot switch 125 cc 8.83 kW (12.5 PS) 100 km / h
K 180 Military Motorcycle 1991– 1 5-speed foot switch 180 cc 13 kW (17 hp) 110 km / h
Hercules luxe CH moped 1985– 1 2-speed automatic 49 cc 30 km / h

literature

Individual evidence

  1. Hercules-contact-form-bicycles-and-e-bikes ( Memento of the original from February 8, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.hercules-bikes.de
  2. Hercules sales office in Cloppenburg ( Memento of the original dated February 8, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.sazbike.de
  3. ^ Carl Marschütz and the Hercules works In: nuernberginfos.de .
  4. Hercules - Bicycles Today . Accell Germany GmbH. Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved October 5, 2012. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.hercules-bikes.de
  5. Entrepreneur History ( Memento of the original from January 30th, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.sfm-bikes.de
  6. ZEG takes over "Hercules". Schweinfurt bicycle brand sold. Main-Post GmbH & Co. KG, January 31, 2014, accessed on February 18, 2014 .
  7. ^ The history of German truck construction , B1, Weltbild Verlag 1994, ISBN 3-89350-811-2 , pp. 89-90.
  8. Hercules history u. a. with truck construction
  9. Ulrich Kubisch : German car brands from A – Z. VF Verlags-Gesellschaft, Mainz 1993, ISBN 3-926917-09-1 .
  10. Michael Wolff Metternich : 100 years on 3 wheels. German three-lane vehicles through the ages. Neue Kunst Verlag, Munich, ISBN 3-929956-00-4 , pp. 184-186.
  11. ^ Hans Christoph von Seherr-Thoss : The German automobile industry. Documentation from 1886 until today . Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, Stuttgart 1974, ISBN 3-421-02284-4 , p. 253 .
  12. Oldtimer Markt Motorrad Spezial No. 8 (2014), p. 61
  13. Hercules "K 103". In: Motor vehicle technology 6/1962, p. 260.

Web links

Commons : Hercules Motorcycles  - Collection of images, videos and audio files