In 1910, the Hercules Cycle and Motor Company Limited was founded in Aston in England. Hercules, the company's name, was chosen for its close associations of both robustness and durability.
Founded by Edward Crane, the Hercules Cycle and Motor Company Limited started their life as a bicycle manufacturer in Coventry Street, Birmingham, where their initial bicycle production was roughly 25 a week.
With their production more than doubling within a couple of months, the Hercules Cycle and Motor Company Limited was forced to move to a larger factory, then they had to move again in 1923 to an ex-Dunlop factory where it remained for 13 years and was aptly called Hercules's Britannia Works and by 1929, their production rate had increased so much that they had to invest in another factory. They found the perfect factory near Long Acre, Nechells, Birmingham and named it Manor Mills.
In the 1950's a third factory was added to the already impressive roster of the Hercules Cycle and Motor Company Limited only a few miles from Manor Mills in Plume Street, Long Acre.
The Hercules Cycle and Motor Company Limited was sold to Tube Investments in 1946, as Tube Investments had been the producers of the wheels for the Hercules line of bicycles.
Although the Hercules Cycle and Motor Company Limited produced motorcycles in their years of manufacturing, little is known today about their motorcycling history.
Original Authors: Nicholas
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 04/06/2008
