Early Rene Herse bicycles part 2

It is apparent that some of the early bicycles bearing the name Rene Herse, perhaps from 1940, were frames not made by Rene Herse but rather refurbished by him. Jan Heine in his book “Rene Herse, the bikes, the builder, the riders” corroborates this view. Early frames are understood to be both lugged and fillet brazed.

Additionally, components used on early Rene Herse bicycles were sourced variously. It is only by the late 1940s that the components became more standardised, by Herse standards. For example by around 1946 “Cyclo” rear derailleurs seem to be predominantly employed. In Heine’s book there is an image of Rene Andre at the commencement of the Journey Velocio hillclimb near Paris. The bicycle is equipped with a Super Champion rear derailleur. Heine claims that the year is possibly 1941.

This is corroborated by information in Le Cycliste, May 1949, no.5. On page 76 it lists the 1941 Criterium de la Poly de Chantleloup “randonnuers” category as being won by Rene Andre on a Rene Herse equipped with a Super Champion rear derailleur. And in the same race in 1944 Raymond Bon in the same category won on a Rene Herse equipped with a Charulet rear derailleur. Hubs employed included Maxi, C.A.R. and Maxi-C.A.R. All this suggests that in the early to mid 1940s Rene Herse bicycles were equipped with components from a range of manufacturers.

Le Cycliste, May 1949, no. 5, p.76.