Rene Herse crank bolts

I recently acquired these Rene Herse crank bolts.

They are cause for me to reflect on the use of bolts with an integrated washer. Jan Heine in the authoritative book on Rene Herse reflects on Herse’ early work as a fitter with the Breguet aircraft manufacturer. The reasonable claim is that Herse would have learned much from aircraft design philosophy of the time and that this knowledge would find its way into his thinking on bicycle design and engineering. Moreover, referencing the author Ronald Barker, Heine suggests that it is also possible that Ettore Bugatti, who had links to Breguet would also have translated design concepts from the aircraft technology of the day with regard to, for example, the design of his bolts and nuts for his automobiles.

What is known is that both Rene Herse and Ettore Bugatti had links to the aircraft industry. Herse worked at Breguet, according to Heine from around 1928  and Bugatti designed aero engines as early as 1914 for Diatto, Duesenberg and Breguet.

What is also known is that Bugatti produced his own bolts and nuts. It is possible that there might be several reasons for this. From a business perspective it would have made sense for Bugatti and Herse to produce their own nuts and bolts in order that customers purchased replacements from them. Particularly if they were distinct is design and size.

Typical Bugatti nut with integrated washer. Image from Conway. H, Bugatti, Haynes Publishing Group, Somerset, 1989, p.442.

The technical attributes of Bugatti’s nut with integrated washer are well articulated in Hugh Conway’s authoritative text on Bugatti when he writes

“…the outer diameter of the washer now increases to that of the corners of the hexagon, rather than a little less than the distance across the flats. This addition definitely makes a Bugatti nut much less likely to become loose.”[1]

As a rule Bugatti’s bolts had square heads and odd-millimetre threads whilst his nuts had integrated washers as per the image. The technical merits of the Herse bolt with integrated washer are less clear but they do provide the increased coverage, and therefore grip, exhibited by the Bugatti nut.

In any event both the Bugatti and Herse bolts and nuts possess design and technical merit. They are well made and have a distinctive aesthetic.

[1] Conway, H. Bugatti, Haynes Publishing Group, Somerset, 1989, p.442.

 

Early Rene Herse bicycles part 1

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.