Hi David,
In August of 1969 I went to Hetchins shop on Seven Sisters road in London and bought my first Hetchins frame "off the peg" (which, if my British English is still correct, means something already made ready to buy). It had the braze on bridge on the seat stays for a rear center pull brake. I asked Alf to put Campagnolo Record components on it with all other parts of a quality to match. His choice with this group combination was the Universal 61. Later I was unhappy with the finish of these brakes and polished them up to look more like the other parts. So, based on my personal experience at that time period, Alf himself would have put this particular model on your bike like he did on mine. Of course his choice may have been partly determined by what he had in stock.
This really brings back memories of that purchasing experience. I bought the frame in the window. It is not the kind that most collectors desire today because it had straight instead of curly stays with long plain reinforcements off the bottom bracket shell. The lugs had some design but are fairly plain The fork crown was his two plate model with his standard long fancy piece. It was however the beginning of a realization that a bike could be functional and beautiful at the same time. I still have it.
Two experiences while buying the parts to make this frame up into a complete bicycle have led me to believe Alf was a person who could see opportunity to his own advantage if it was available. The cost of this frame in 1969 was 25 pounds. It was a 22 1/2 inch model. After telling him I would like to buy it, I asked if it was my size. Both him and Jack Denny looked at me and said "sure, it will fit you". Mind you there was no questions about my leg length or what I was already riding. I'm 5' 8" and my legs look shorter than they are. When I came to pick it up a couple of days later, the seat was as far down as it could go. They seemed surprised that it had to be raised. Actually I know now that 22 1/2" is my exact size but my impression has been that they were more interested in not interrupting a sale than fitting me properly. This impression was also reinforced with the purchase price. I asked Alf how much it would cost to put the bike together with Campy Record parts. He said $220 (not how much in pounds) for an all Campy bike. When I came to get it, they had equipped it with Tipo hubs instead of Record and the steel instead of aluminum rear derailleur. I asked him to change the derailleur but was too shy to request the better wheels. When I went to pay, he asks "how much did I say this would cost?" I reminded him that it was $220 and that is what he charged. My impression has been that the $220 was the price he also charged some other American for a more expensive frame with all Record components. However, I was so happy for the bike I didn't think it was a bad price then and nobody would complain about paying that now.
I am wondering if my first impressions were fair or if they are just what happens to an inexperienced college kid making a big purchase. Later Alf and I became friends and I bought other bikes from him at Tottenham and, after he moved, to South-end-on Sea. He helped me out several times while I was apprenticing to build frames at Ellis-Briggs in 1975 so I have some really nice memories of him. I am curious about experiences other list members have had buying frames or complete bicycles from him.
By the way, I learned of Hetchins because of a road test in "American Cycling" magazine which later became Bicycling!. The bike they road tested was a Hellenic model. This particular August 1969 magazine changed the direction of my life and I have often wished I had a copy of it. Here in the Midwest that magazine I read in the library (more like a club newsletter then) was the only source of bicycling information available to me.
Doug Fattic Niles, Michigan
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Imagine... it's 1969. You've just ordered a gorgeous Hetchins Vade Mecum Mk II frame (see <http://www.hetchins.org/501vm-01.htm>. You decided to use center pull brakes and specified that cable stops suitable for mounting center-pulls be brazed on. It's too late to change your mind and go for side pulls. The rest of the equipment will be Campy Record/Nuovo record. Now the question is which brand and model center pull brake to use when you build up your dream bike after it arrives in a few weeks...
Your thoughts?
David -- my 1969 Hetchins frame arrived today -- White Burlington, VT
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