It isn’t often that an early Rene Herse bicycle presents itself as a point of reference. Such was the case recently when a complete chrome-framed bicycle was listed for sale. It was described as a 1941 build with frame number 200. It had the appearance of an “as found” bicycle.
Of the history of Herse bicyles from this period Jane Heine writes that in 1940 Rene Herse moved his shop to 213, rue de Courcelles on the periphery of Paris. The German occupation of France was from May 1940 so they must have been unsettling times in Paris. It would appear, on Heine’s account, that bicycle production in France continued during the war to meet demand for the Germany. As a result small constructeurs, like Herse, could conceivably have escaped the attention of the authorities. Based on testimony of Lilyi Herse, Heine also reports that Jean Desbois, joined the Herse workshop in November 1941, as a teenager. Desbois would become the senior frame builder for the workshop through the war years and into the early fifties. He eventually left the employ of Herse but returned again in 1975.
On the evidence, the earliest Herse frames, were varied in both their construction and the components used. Also as was usual at the time frames of other origins were often re-finished and re-sold. Heine’s book on Rene Herse has images of bicycles that include fillet brazed and lugged frames and a mix of components. It is possible too that availability of high end components might have been disrupted by the war. And if this was the case is it possible that, by necessity, in-house design and fabrication of components increased to offset supply problems? In any event, it is claimed that frame builders like Herse built relatively high numbers of bicycles during the war period. This also implies that there were sufficient customers for such bicycles.
Early Herse frames of the war period can be distinguished by, among other features, slightly different lug designs than the later pattern. Frame #200 (see below) has lugs that are recognisable as Rene Herse.
My interpretation of the frame is as follows. The seat-stay tube does not continue up around the top tube as with frames of the post-WWII period. This is consistent with other early RH frames. The bottom bracket has a logo stamped in it but difficult to decipher. Possibly RFG? The drop outs and braze-ons, including the rear brake cable hanger, look to be consistent with those of Herse. The rear derailleur fitting comprises two custom tubes. Again consistent with RH frames but not necessarily those of the early forties. The RH frames in Heine’s book tagged as early forties or earlier are equipped with the factory stamped Cyclo bracket. Could this differentiate RH frames between those produced pre-1941and those produced later, perhaps from late 1941?
As regards components the bicycle does not appear to possess any Herse designed and made components. So the brakes, cranks, chain-wheels, stem are non-Herse. As best as I am able to determine the rear derailleur is steel Cyclo, stem is alloy AVA, brake levers alloy LAM, headset Stronglight, alloy fenders and chain guard of unknown margue, cranks look to be hollow-forged Duprat, steel pedals marque unknown, rims alloy Laroche Pouchois, brakes possibly Jeay, steel saddle post. Saddle unknown. Hubs look consistent with Maxi, are low-flange and are almost certainly alloy. Tires look to be 650.
Of particular note is the hand-painted Herse initials on the head tube and name on the down tube. The color of the lettering is red but on the down tube the name has a white shadow and is painted on the top only not on both sides as with later Herse bicycles. This is consistent with early Herse frames around the time of 1941 in Heine’s book.
In summary, a fine early example of the constructeur Rene Herse.
marcfellman 