Brandon,
Though it has been said that Raleigh, Humber, and Rudge are promoted as the "High Quality Brands" and "Phillips, Robin Hood, Hercules and Dunelt" (among Others) as "Low Quality" I invite Sheldon, Hilary and others for comment. Quality is a relative term. While most of the brands operated for decades independently before Raleigh Industries LTD swallowed them up, I have seen no consistent quality differences between the brands listed above in frame construction quality or materials to speak of. What the difference between the higher quality brands and models was equipment. "Heron" or "Rudge Hand" cottered cranks (as opposed to plain cottered cranks), Brooks leather saddles (as opposed to plain mattress saddles), Locking forks, hi-pressure gum tyres (as opposed to blackwalls), pin striped mudguards, full chaincases, Dynohub lighting systems, Drum brakes, Stainless steel rims, self adjusting brakes or a 4 speed internal hub would all be premium features on the better models but I have seen many parts like this on cheaper models as well.
Years ago before the Raleigh guys acquired the smaller guys they was certainly some difference between brands. I saw a Humber in the show window of Trophy Bikes in Philly last year that had details to make Rene Herse proud. All the more remarkable it was produced around 1910 I was told. Hercules was the discount leader in the 1930's ( a Mongoose pre-curser business plan perhaps) and reduced and starved a strong bicycle industry with aggressive pricing that put most companies in distress or receivership, including overtime ultimately themselves. Too bad.
I'm no expert but it seems of all the claims to quality made by the balloon tire crowd over the various models produced in the states is minor. The major noticeable differences between them was the bolt on accessories and optional equipment. Yes, I'll take that Schwinn Phantom with that Eddie Bauer® package. However from my experience the older 3 speed style roadsters are more similar than most generations of ballooners.
Let's find out more,
Gilbert Anderson Raleigh, NC
In a message dated 2/11/01 10:21:48 PM, monkey37@bluemarble.net writes:
<< I've been looking around the web and can't find anything on Dunelt except Sheldon saying, "Dunelt was a second rank brand. Many Dunelts feature a fork similar to the Raleigh dimpled fork, only with a flattened top." I don't doubt this, but I pulled a ladies "sports" style out of a dumpster the other day and found it to be as nice as the best Raleighs. It has John Bull stuff all the way around, nice lugs, nice braze-on pump pegs, a second "headbadge" on the back of the two-tone fenders, and a nice fork different from the one Sheldon describes. On the other hand it doesn't have a Brooks and the crankset seems really standard. Looking at the Menotomy discussion list people seem to be asking the same questions with few answers. Years of production, where thay were made, and catalog pics and info would be great? Oh, the year on the hub is '62.
enjoy,
Brandon"monkeyman"Ives >>