Steve, The "option" on the Herse allows you to "overshift" the chain onto that thin metal circular strip and remove the wheel, witout ever touching the chain. Campagnolo's porta canteena (I probably spelled it wrong) was a similar mechanism. The shift levers that were used with these systems had an extra position that would shift past the freewheel. The levers usually had a lockout feature so you wouldn't do this inadvertently.
Peter Weigle Lyme Ct.
Interesting frame, can anyone explain the right rear dropout? It looks like
it's got
a fairly heavy washer brazed around the axle slot, as well as a thin strip
of metal surrounding the
slot and back of the dropout http://www.reneherse.com/
Steve Birmingham
Lowell, Ma
USA