Trying to ID old frame
 

Trying to get a decent ID on this thing. The BB shell says Hetchins on it but the lugs and serial dont seem to really match up. Just wondering id anyone on this side of BF has some new ideas.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c9...y/DSCI7765.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c9...y/DSCI7759.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c9...y/DSCI7760.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c9...y/DSCI7761.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c9...y/DSCI7766.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c9...y/DSCI7762.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c9...y/DSCI7763.jpg

Probably not going to find a whole lot more info on this side of the forum either, sadly. Usually we send questions like this over to C&V but it looks like you're from there :lol:.

I find it interesting that this has a drilled fork and rear brake bridge. It seems to me that a bike with that fancy of lug work would have a specific track fork and an undrilled rear bridge. Is that paint original? Maybe this was a one-off custom frame since you said the bb shell and lugs don't match up.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/advert.JPG

Talk to a pro before you do anything to that frame!

Serial doesn't make sense and some things seem off (non lugged brake bridge for example), but lugs appear to be Hetchins. Also doesn't look like one of the fake ones that were being made a while back... Kind of an odd duck. Lugs scream Experto Crede... But some build aspects just don't seem to fit.

Hetchins Spyder or Swallow 1970

http://classiclightweights.co.uk/swallow4.JPG

http://classiclightweights.co.uk/swallow5.JPG

lots of close-ups on the lugwork of both the Spyder and the Swallow, two very similar Hetchins.
http://www.hetchins.org/501spy-01.htm


http://classiclightweights.co.uk/readers_bikes.html

The track ends look off to me but the rest sure looks early but legit. Get it over to the C&V guys. They will be all over it.

The rear brake was common for path racers. Most guys rode to the race, removed the brakes and raced, then rode home.

those are totally Experto Crede lugs. (NOT spyder or swallow)

here's one on ebay with identical track ends and rear bridge
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1958-Hetch...-/200646698807

you have to remember these were a lot of custom builds, not everything is going to "match up" because the buyer could pick whatever he wanted in terms of lugs, stays, fork crowns, etc.

British path racers of that period were often drilled for brakes and even mount points for fenders as few people had cars so racers would use their bikes on the road to commute and then remove the brakes and fenders to race.