René Herse Catalog and Price List of 1953 — Cyclotourisme, Randonneuse, Camping and Grand Routier, the Components and the Bags, Levallois-Perret

Twelve photographs of René Herse’s bound catalog with a loose typed English price list of 1953, taken for an eBay listing. The pages for the other models were not photographed.

— Page 1 (front cover) —
René HERSE

RENE HERSE PRICE LIST 1953.

MODEL CYCLOTOURISME
REYNOLDS 531 frame tub[cut off]
Enamel f[cut off]

[typed lines on a sheet above the price list heading, top half cut off by the frame]
HERSE derailleur with internal oiling – eccentric HERSE lever.
HERSE front derailleur, rigid pattern.

[Front cover of the booklet of René HERSE, titled “René HERSE”, in blue with silhouettes of a man with a front bag and a woman on bicycles; a typed English price list lies behind it, its heading “RENE HERSE PRICE LIST 1953.” and the start of “MODEL CYCLOTOURISME” showing above the cover, with two typed lines cut off by the cover and two more lines on a sheet above.]

— Page 2 —
CYCLOTOURISME
Quoi de plus agréable que de visiter nos belles régions.
En ma compagnie vous pourr[cut off]
15 vite[cut off]
Mes roulements ne prendront [cut off]
Mon éclairage par [cut off]

RENE HERSE PRICE LIST 1953.

MODEL CYCLOTOURISME
[cut off]

[Cyclotourisme page of the René HERSE booklet: a line drawing of the rear half of a touring bicycle with rear rack, fender, dynamo and a three-ring chainwheel, a small blue sketch of a woman cycling with front and rear bags, and a blue band lettered CYCLOTOURISME. The page is cut off at the right edge of the photograph, so the right half of the band text is lost; the typed price list lies above the page, showing only its heading “RENE HERSE PRICE LIST 1953.” and “MODEL CYCLOTOURISME”.]

— Page 3 —
Pour le RANDONNEUR, je fus conçue ; mes fourreaux ronds et mon cadre monté en tubes de diamètres choisis font un ensemble d’une extrême rigidité. Je réunis toutes les qualités : LEGERETE – RENDEMENT – SOLIDITE.
RANDONNEUSE

RENE HERSE PRICE LIST 1953.

MODEL CYCLOTOURISME
[cut off]

HERSE derailleur with internal oiling – eccentric HERSE lever.
HERSE front derailleur, rigid pattern.

[Randonneuse page of the René HERSE booklet: a line drawing of a drop-handlebar bicycle with fenders, front and rear lights and a three-ring chainwheel, a small blue sketch of a cyclist, a hand-lettered signature in a small box under the rear wheel, and a blue band lettered RANDONNEUSE. The typed price list lies above the page, with its heading “RENE HERSE PRICE LIST 1953.” and “MODEL CYCLOTOURISME” showing and two typed lines on a sheet above, the top line partly cut off by the frame.]

— Page 4 —
CYCLO-CAMPEURS : En France, à l’Etranger, sans crainte, vous pourrez voyager. Mon cadre construit en série « TANDEM » et mes porte-bagages d’une grande rigidité, vous assureront une parfaite stabilité.
CAMPING

[heading not visible]
HERSE derailleur with internal oiling – eccentric HERSE lever.
HERSE front derailleur, rigid pattern.
Dural mudguards – matching enamel band – all bolts & nuts chromed.
Dural seat pillar – HERSE handlebar stem – Dural bell.
Front bag support all chromed.
Lighting by contact internal with operating lever brazed on frame. £ 47. 2. 6
Other extras & deductions as Model CYCLOTOURISME.

MODEL CAMPING.
REYNOLDS tubes all brazed – all attachments brazed.
Enamel finish on anti-rust base. (Colour to choice)
STRONGLIGHT special COMPETITION head fittings.
HERSE S.K.F. bracket set – double chainwheel – cotterless cranks.
HERSE derailleur with internal oiling – eccentric HERSE control lever.
HERSE front chainwheel derailleur, rigid control pattern.
Dural mudguards – matching enamel band – all bolts & nuts chromed.
Dural seat pillar – HERSE handlebar stem – dural bell.
Special CAMPING pannier supports front and rear, all chrome. £ 54. 5. 0

[Camping page of the René HERSE booklet: a line drawing of a drop-handlebar bicycle with front and rear racks, fenders and a lamp, a small blue sketch of a tent under a tree, a hand-lettered signature in a small box under the rear wheel, and a blue band lettered CAMPING. The typed price list lies above the page, its first line partly cut off by the frame, giving the end of one model and “MODEL CAMPING.” with its prices.]

— Page 5 —
[cut off]vant votre caprice, nous camperons au fond de la vallée, au détour du [cut off]min… Mes 15 vitesses vous donneront toujours un développement [cut off]roprié et sans crainte vous pourrez charger mes porte-bagages spécialement étudiés pour supporter de vastes sacoches.
GRAND ROUTIER

[Grand Routier page of the René HERSE booklet: a line drawing of a tandem bicycle with drop handlebars, front and rear racks, fenders and a lamp, a small blue sketch of a folded road map and a milestone, a hand-lettered signature in a small box under the rear wheel, and a blue band lettered GRAND ROUTIER. The left edge of the page is cut off by the frame, so the beginnings of the band lines are lost.]

— Page 6 —
PÉDALIER – DÉRAILLEUR DE PLATEAU
Ci-dessous : dérailleur de pédalier à commande directe, permettant le maximum d’écarts entre les plateaux. Ce dérailleur se monte également par câble et manette au cadre.
Ci-dessous : plateaux double ou triple en métal léger à haute résistance, se montant[?] sur nos manivelles à emmanchement carré.
PEDALIER DURAL A EMMANCHEMENT CARRE, permettant le changement de plateau sans le démontage de la manivelle ni de la pédale.

[Pédalier and Dérailleur de Plateau page of the René HERSE booklet: line drawings of a chainwheel with a front derailleur, a double chainwheel on a crank arm with a pedal and toe clip, and a three-ring chainwheel set, with three French text blocks and a hand-lettered signature in a small box at the lower right, under a blue band lettered PÉDALIER – DÉRAILLEUR DE PLATEAU.]

— Page 7 —
FREINS – ROULEMENT ANNULAIRE DE PÉDALIER
De tous les FREINS pour le cyclotourisme, il est le plus efficace grâce à un calcul judicieux des leviers et à l’absence totale de friction. LE PLUS DOUX, il obéit sous la pression d’un doigt. Il permet le démontage de la roue sans dégonfler le pneu, sans toucher à son propre réglage.
Frein AR. pour vélo dame, se montant sous la triangulation.
Détail de la boîte[?] et roulements de pédalier S.K.F.

[Freins and Roulement Annulaire de Pédalier page of the René HERSE booklet: line drawings of a rear brake for a lady’s frame, a cantilever brake on a fork, and an exploded bottom bracket with spindle, bearing and bolt next to a shell, with three French text blocks. Small hand-drawn monogram marks sit beside each drawing, and the title is on a blue band.]

— Page 8 —
POTENCES EN DURALUMIN FORGE
(Les potences présentées se font en toutes dimensions).
[cut off]OTENCE
[cut off]pandeur in-
[cut off]le, le bou-
[cut off] sert de
[cut off]ue d’iden-
tité.
POTENCE à COLLIER venant directement en serrage sur le tube fileté.
POTENCE à plongeur visible.
POTENCE à COLLIER pouvant recevoir l’outillage nécessaire au montage et démontage des manivelles.

[Potences en duralumin forgé page of the René HERSE booklet: line drawings of four handlebar stems on forks, one with a quill bolt and lever, one clamped on the threaded steerer tube, and an exploded stem showing its bolt, wedge and tools, with French text blocks. The left edge of the page is cut off by the frame, so the left text block is incomplete, and a hand-lettered signature in a small box sits at the lower right.]

— Page 9 —
SUPPORT DE SAC AVANT
MODELES RECOMMANDES POUR LA RANDONNEE ET LE SPORT
Elégant support sac de guidon en tubes étirés et chromés.
SUPPORT SAC DE GUIDON, équipé du phare.

[Support de Sac Avant page of the René HERSE booklet: two line drawings of chromed front bag supports fitted over a front wheel and fork, the left one with a headlamp, with three French text blocks. Small hand-drawn monogram marks sit beside the drawings, and the title is on a blue band.]

— Page 10 —
[cut off]ANT
PORTE-SACOCHES AVA[cut off]
[cut off]te-sac
[cut off]s de
[cut off].
AVANT
Double fixation par vis sur la tête de fourche.
[cut off]

[Spread of the René HERSE booklet, cut off at the left and right edges: on the left page a line drawing of a chromed bag support clamped under the handlebar and running down to the fork and a headlamp, on the right page “Porte-Sacoches Avant” with a drawing of a chromed front rack on a fork and headlamp. A text block at the left edge and another at the right edge are mostly cut off by the frame, and small hand-drawn monogram marks sit beside the drawings.]

— Page 11 —
SAC DE GUIDON – SACOCHES « CAMPING »
Deux exemples de sacs et sacoches parmi nos nombreux modèles.
Et voici pour le CAMPING les indispensables sacoches AR à double poches.
Très joli et très pratique sac de guidon. A conseiller tout particulièrement pour la randonnée.

[Sac de Guidon and Sacoches “Camping” page of the René HERSE booklet: a line drawing of a handlebar bag on a front rack and a drawing of a pair of rear camping panniers with leather straps and buckles, with four French text blocks. Small hand-drawn monogram marks sit beside each drawing, and the title is on a blue band.]

— Page 12 (back cover) —
12, Rue du Président-Wilson
LEVALLOIS-PERRET- PER. 36-26

MODEL CYCLOTOURISME
REYNOLDS 531 frame tubes brazed – all attachments brazed on.
Enamel finish on anti-rust base. (Colour to choice)
STRONGLIGHT special COMPETITION head fittings.
HERSE S.K.F. bracket set – double chainwheel – cotterless cranks.
HERSE derailleur with internal oiling – eccentric lever.
HERSE front chainwheel derailleur, rigid pattern.
Brake fittings brazed if required.
Mudguards dural – matching enamel band – all bolts & nuts chromed.
Dural seat pillar – HERSE handlebar stem to choice -dural bell.
Front bag support – rear pannier carriers with brake protectors, chromed.
Lighting by contact internal (Dynamo – headlamp – rearlamp).
Brazed pump pegs to order. £ 48. 15. 0

EXTRAS.
Triple chainwheel. 1. 8. 3
Finish ‘ITALIENNE’ (Front & rear ends, fork crown chromed ) 2. 15. 9
” ” (as above plus all lugs & bracket chromed) 4. 11. 6
” ALL CHROME on copper base. 7. 4. 9
Front derailleur operated by cable & L.H. down tube control. 14. 9
Dynamo operated by brazed lever at top of seat tube. 1. 6. 3
VIT bottle cage brazed to seat tube with special VIT bottle. 1. 8. 9

DEDUCTION.
STRONGLIGHT bottom bracket with usual cups & balls in lieu of
HERSE S.K.F. LESS. 4. 2. 9

MODEL COMPETITION.
REYNOLDS tubes all brazed – all attachments brazed.
Enamel finish on anti-rust base. (Colour to choice)
STRONGLIGHT special COMPETITION head fittings.
HERSE S.K.F. bracket set – double chainwheel – cotterless cranks.
SIMPLEX JUY 51 derailleur fitted on special fork-end lug.
HERSE front chainwheel derailleur, rigid pattern.
Dural mudguards – matching enamel band – all bolts & nuts chromed.
Dural seat pillar – HERSE handlebar stem – dural bell. £ 39. 17. 0

EXTRAS.
Special round forks and [illegible] extra light tubes [cut off] 3. 14. 0[?]

M[cut off]

M[cut off]

[Back view of the René HERSE booklet: the plain back cover carries a blue printed address label reading “12, Rue du Président-Wilson” and “LEVALLOIS-PERRET- PER. 36-26”. The typed English price list lies above and behind it, showing the model Cyclotourisme list with its price, extras, a deduction and the model Competition list, cut off by the cover at the foot, and two underlined headings beginning with M at the left edge hidden by the booklet.]