Hermes and Thor catalogue published by AB ONNI LINDEBACK OY - HELSINKI
Date unknown.
For prices. In 1930 1800Smk or Suomen markkaa or Finnish mark would be about 760€ in todays money, or about $890
Translation through translator:
Page 3.
A little bit about bicycles and cycling
Anyone who has not had the opportunity to go on a cycling tour in the summer has no idea of the pleasure and joy it brings and the invigorating physical exercise it provides.
You can enjoy nature and fresh air many times better by cycling than in a closed railway carriage or car. When cycling, you are independent of a schedule and can easily move forward even on bumpy roads and bad roads. Along the way, you have the opportunity to choose a good beach and eat what you have in your backpack on the most beautiful forest slope.
Get yourself a bicycle this summer, regardless of your age and where you live, and cycle on it after your working day. Then you will find that you have found a new source of joy and refreshment. Ride steadily and calmly, without straining yourself. In the beginning, about 30-35 minutes per mile is a suitable pace on a good road. If you are untrained and are going on a longer trip, a daily ride of 6-7 miles is enough, about 40 minutes at an average speed. Once you have become more skilled, you can increase your speed and daily ride distance to 10 miles or more.
In order to fully enjoy and benefit from cycling, you must own a good, light-rolling and sturdy bicycle.
From experience, we know that Hermes belongs to the elite class of bicycles. Hermes is very light-rolling and built with the greatest care and precision, so you are saved from unnecessary repairs. Hermes is comfortable to ride and easy to maintain. There are suitable models for people of different ages.
Start cycling already for the summer! You will give cycling the best possible ratings, both from a sports and travel perspective.
Page 4.
N:0 1
The Hermes men's bicycle is a model that is suitable for men of all ages for everyday use as well as for exercise and pleasure riding.
N:0 2
The Hermes women's bicycle is a model that is suitable for women of all ages for everyday use as well as for exercise and pleasure riding.
N:0 3
The Hermes "Scout" boys' bicycle is the most suitable bike for boys under 10 years old.
No 4
The Hermes "Scout" girls' bicycle is the most suitable bike for girls under 10 years old.
N:0 5
The Hermes "Specialracer" competition bicycle is specifically intended for all competition cyclists.
N:0 6
The Hermes "Turistracer" touring bicycle is a youth bicycle, especially for travel and pleasure rides. It is also suitable as a competition bicycle.
N:0 7
The Hermes road racing bicycle is a cross between a touring bicycle and a regular bicycle.
N:0 8
The Hermes cargo bicycle I is equipped with a spacious luggage rack with side supports. This very sturdy model is specially built for transporting all kinds of goods.
N 9
The Hermes cargo bicycle II is equipped with a large and spacious luggage rack with side supports. This model is specially built for colonial goods stores, bakeries, slaughterhouses, flower shops and generally for businesses that need a sturdy transport bike for their goods.
Page 9
HERMES Specialracer racing bicycle
Description:
Frame.......Height 22". Tube diameter 1". Optional 24", which makes the tube diameter 14/s". Frame made of special alloyed Swedish drawn steel tube, with specially constructed reinforcements.
Front fork.......Made of special alloyed Swedish drawn steel tube, forged, arched fork crown, open fork tips.
Handlebar........Specialracer, with angular head tube, new model, black lacquered, adjustable, bent forward and downward, width 17".
Handles......Prima rubber, 7" long.
Drums......Hermes Specialracer, very light, with machine-ground ball races, absolutely dust-tight, wing nuts on both sides. The rear drum is equipped with one fixed and one freewheeling sprocket, one with 18 and the other with 19 teeth.
Rim brakes.......Bowden, for both front and rear wheels.
Rubber tires......Dunlop tubular tires, special manufacture, 28×1 1/8"
Steerer bearing......Hermes with machine-ground ball race.
Crank bearing...... Hermes Specialracer with machine-ground ball race.
Chain......Diamond, 1/8", the best manufacture in the world.
Chain guard.......Made of sheet steel, lacquered and striped. Same color as the frame.
Gear.......80." or 76".
Pedals...........Hermes Specialracer with spring-hardened toe caps.
Seat........Hermes racer pin leather, best quality.
Nickeling.......Finished after copper plating. Durable and graceful.
Lacquering........Beautiful pink with gold stripes, made after a rust-proof treatment. Durable and graceful.
Equipment........Brass bell, English celluloid pump, toolbox containing wrenches, oil can, cleaning cloth and repair kit
Price Smk. 1840: -
Page 19.
Bicycle care advice.
Treat your bicycle like a good friend who does you great service. A little care and maintenance will extend the life of your bicycle considerably.
Keep your bicycle free of dust and dirt. Wipe it immediately after riding, especially on rainy days.
Tighten all loose screws and nuts, but use a screwdriver and wrenches carefully so as not to damage the screws and nuts." :
If you don't want to put your life at risk, check that the handlebar stem and seat post are sufficiently recessed into the frame, at least 50 mm.
Each bearing must be well adjusted and filled with a suitable lubricant at least once a year. It is best to clean and lubricate the bicycle a couple of times during the riding season.
Keep the chain well tensioned, but not too tight.
Store the bicycle in a dry room, either hanging or upside down on the floor, on the saddle and handlebars. The basement is not suitable for storage.
Save the rubber tires and the entire bicycle in general by keeping enough air in the tires, especially the rear ones. This also makes it easier to ride the bicycle.
The bicycle should not be overload, as it is intended for only one person. There are bicycles specially built for transporting goods.
Doria is a publishing archive maintained by the National Library of Finland. It has 782 publications under "bicycling".
Earliest dated publication is a bicycle parts catalog from 1885. https://www.doria.fi/handle/10024/85128
Raleigh from 1894.
Några små vinkar för velocipedköpare och -nybörjare (John Tourunen & Co, 1894)
Translation:
The above picture is an illustration of an event, interesting enough in its kind, which ended comparatively happily. The picture shows how things could go badly even for a Raleigh, although the world's foremost rider, Mr. A. A. Zimmerman, rode it. Of this machine and the circumstances connected with it, The Raleigh Cycle C:0 L:d in its catalogue for 1894 states the following:
Our Raleigh delivered to Mr. Zimmerman for his European tour in 1893 had no luck with it. After he had won all the trial races in England, France, Scotland and Ireland with it, and set innumerable records, among them the extraordinary record of 25¹/s sec. at his first appearance on the Buffalo circuit in Paris, a record which no French amateur or professional had been able to achieve, he took part in the 25-mile champion race at Dublin on June 7, 1893. As he was about to clear a curve at great speed, he was thrown with terrifying force against the iron fence that runs around the track. Zimmy spat out three teeth and had his jaws badly masqueraded, in addition to the many other serious scratches he received. His machine was photographed after the disaster.
It may be added that in addition to the defects that are visible in the picture, the upper and lower frame tubes were bent
without being broken. (The translation of "mil" to "mile" is most likely wrong as the word "mil" likely means Swedish/old Finnish unit of length. 1mil=10km, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_mile)
The Thor bicycles in the "Hermes and Thor catalogue" are stated, in the catalogue, to be "Finnish model.... Frame manufactured under the company name A. B. Nymans Verkstäder, Uppsala, Sweden."
The Hermes bicycles are the Swedish ones.
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