Richard,
I have 4 Hetchins that fall between 1990 and 2000 build dates. The first is a MO track frame built while Hetchins/Jackson were one. The second is a MO tandem ordered thru David Miller. I recieved two Hetchins Milliniums in 2000, David Miller frames also. All of these frames were made to my specs.; one Millinium belongs to my former wife. I also have a 1972 Scorpion Bonham Spider.
I have sort of followed the trail of Hetchins a bit and I have to admit that I always thought that the David Miller managed company was the direct link back to the original. The story I have always heard is the one Tom just cited on Flashs' site. Who actually makes the frames isn't really an issue, but there should be only one company using the name. I find it odd that another party would come along knowing full well that someone else was engaged in using a name and start up another company to compete directly with it, just because they "could get away with it". Why not make the same frame but use an original name? Because the Hechins name is recognized. The frame bits and lug patterns are not trademarked or anything that I know of, but they could have used their own name. I don't know party "B" at all but I have to say that using the Hetchins name seems like a breach of consideration at least. BTW, regarding Swiss Army Kinves; one claims to be "the original" and the other claims to be "the official". Apparently both companies are correct.
I'm curious why the David Miller company did not attend to the registration of the name, but I'm also shocked that another party would start up using the name at the same time. It all seems like a strange state of affairs although I'm willing to validate each group as people and framebuilders; but some of the behavior is not to my deffinition of proper. Not that my opinion matters, just my $.02.
Brian Baylis La Mesa, CA Do I have to get another one to compare the two now? I'd rather just have one company per name, really.
>
> i'm curous about this...
> how many listmembers have ponied up for a hetchins
> built after, say, 1975? no matter from where it came.
>
> i still think that there is no downside.
> the buyers got what they wanted. the sellers got paid. and
> to bring this into the present tense, there are two choices to
> consider if you now want to buy what's labeled 'hetchins'.
>
> so...
> any owners on this list, or are these debates rhetorical?
> e-RICHIE
> chester, ct