Hetchins' Hetchins
05-09-15 | 09:03 PM
#1
Thread Starter
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Hetchins' Hetchins
The frame built specially for Hyman Hetchins in 1948 has apparently shown up on eBay:
Hyman Hetchins,Founder of Hetchins Cycles,His Own Magnum Opus Frame 1948 | eBay
The holy grail of vintage British cycling: the lugwork makes the Magnus Opus look understated. Completely out of my league and probably best suited to a museum.
Hyman Hetchins,Founder of Hetchins Cycles,His Own Magnum Opus Frame 1948 | eBay
The holy grail of vintage British cycling: the lugwork makes the Magnus Opus look understated. Completely out of my league and probably best suited to a museum.
05-09-15 | 09:59 PM
#2
Extraordinary Magnitude
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From: Waukesha WI
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
That fork crown is the mutt's pyjamas!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
05-09-15 | 11:12 PM
#3
Señor Member
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From: Hardy, VA
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
I saw the thread title and my first thought was "hyperbole". Little did I know...
Perhaps someday I'll have mine restored as nicely as this one has been.
Perhaps someday I'll have mine restored as nicely as this one has been.
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05-09-15 | 11:38 PM
#4
I don't get it. The seller claims a particular vintage and then realizing that the frame does not completely correspond to this vintage then goes and says it has been worked on but does not say why or to what extent work was carried out on the frame. The work done to the rear dropouts is nigh impossible to return to original. Likewise the paint is not original and to find parts would also be very difficult to find but the price is still at a huge premium over a very nice period correct frame...
05-09-15 | 11:43 PM
#5
Señor Member
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From: Hardy, VA
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
I think they're counting on the provenance to command the premium. I am skeptical that it will sell for the asking price, but have to admit that it's a looker and would make quite the conversation piece. Perhaps someone with the official title "Sir", and to whom money is no object is the market they are hoping to appeal to.
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05-10-15 | 05:24 AM
#9
Cyclotouriste
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From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
05-10-15 | 06:07 AM
#10
multimodal commuter
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From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Yeah, whatever. I don't get it either. All that extra doodadry stuck to the frame tubes makes it look heavy, it's the busiest looking frame I've ever seen, and it's not even a period piece. Why would anyone want it? No doubt someone will want it, but not for any reason I can comprehend.
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05-10-15 | 06:15 AM
#11
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Agreed. This is a not a rider's frame: it's for hanging over the fire place.
As mentioned above, the drop-outs are 1970's; the brake cable guides are in the wrong position for the 1940's; and the paint-work leaves a lot to be desired. I'm still curious as to whether or not it will sell...
As mentioned above, the drop-outs are 1970's; the brake cable guides are in the wrong position for the 1940's; and the paint-work leaves a lot to be desired. I'm still curious as to whether or not it will sell...
05-10-15 | 10:05 AM
#14
feros ferio
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From: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
This reminds me of my visit, years ago, to "Hetchins Heaven," the home of Jimmy Thompson, who used to work for Hetchins. He had two dozen bikes from a similar spread of model years, including one with a backward-threaded bottom bracket (RH on the right, LH on the left, which meant that the adjustable cup had to be mounted on the drive side). Gorgeous workmanship, if over the top, even by Capo standards. 
I also recall seeing several ornate curvy-stayed Hetchins bikes at Charlie Harding's shop on Westwood Blvd., just south of UCLA and Westwood Village. He had converted an older, plainer one to 90 speeds with four shift levers, using a Sturmey IGH with a triple chainring and a 6-speed freewheel.
I also recall seeing several ornate curvy-stayed Hetchins bikes at Charlie Harding's shop on Westwood Blvd., just south of UCLA and Westwood Village. He had converted an older, plainer one to 90 speeds with four shift levers, using a Sturmey IGH with a triple chainring and a 6-speed freewheel.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
05-10-15 | 10:24 AM
#15
Cyclotouriste
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From: South Holland, NL
Bikes: Yes, please.
Now, that's where I don't agree. It may be gaudy and it may be OTT, but if I had one in my size I'd build it and ride it.
05-10-15 | 11:17 AM
#16
multimodal commuter
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From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
I don't hate it. I just don't understand it. If I owned it, I would sell it.
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05-10-15 | 12:04 PM
#17
05-10-15 | 01:14 PM
#18
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From: Hurricane Alley , Florida
Bikes: Treks (USA), Schwinn Paramount, Schwinn letour,Raleigh Team Professional, Gazelle GoldLine Racing, 2 Super Mondias, Carlton Professional.
Super Record 11 would look great on it.....Zipp high profile tubular rims......
05-10-15 | 01:22 PM
#19
Get off my lawn!
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From: The Garden State
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
I suppose this is the Earls Court frame, better pics here on the Hetchins site:
Hyman's Own Hetchins
Hyman's Own Hetchins
05-10-15 | 05:39 PM
#23
I suppose this is the Earls Court frame, better pics here on the Hetchins site:
Hyman's Own Hetchins
Hyman's Own Hetchins
I would really like to see an image of the bike in its original configuration. I just suspect it was more than just the dropouts and the cable routing that were renovated.
05-10-15 | 07:37 PM
#24
Get off my lawn!
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Posts: 6,035
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From: The Garden State
Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman
It's all kinda sketchy apparently with little or no original documentation:
Claimed....However the head lugs....embellishments look to be original.
In all you can safely say it is a bit of the Hetchins story, be it 100% correct or a bit "embellished"
Wall hanger...eh.....If I had that kinda $, it would be my daily rider, I've always liked the looks of that frame.
Alf had it renovated and it was seen in its present state in about 1980; it was photographed for this web site in July 2010. Alf claimed that it had been made for his father, Hyman. The size 20-1/2" would have been about right for Hyman (who was not tall). The rear dropouts are not original as the right one is Campag with mech-eye (unknown in 1948). However, the head and seat lugs are certainly original, as no one would have built a frame with belled head lugs in 1980. Also the fork embellishment looks to be original 1948, as is the Chater Lea bb shell.
In all you can safely say it is a bit of the Hetchins story, be it 100% correct or a bit "embellished"
Wall hanger...eh.....If I had that kinda $, it would be my daily rider, I've always liked the looks of that frame.
05-10-15 | 11:16 PM
#25
Crawlin' up, flyin' down
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From: Democratic Peoples' Republic of Berkeley
Bikes: 1967 Paramount; 1982-ish Ron Cooper; 1978 Eisentraut "A"; two mid-1960s Cinelli Speciale Corsas; and others in various stages of non-rideability.
This is meant as a serious question, not as snark.
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