Re: [CR] Hetchins touring

(Example: Events)

From: "Peter Brueggeman" <4peebee@peterbrueggeman.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 21:00:34 -0700
Subject: Re: [CR] Hetchins touring


Sean Flores asks "Will some Hetchins afficiando take me to school on this? "Not refurbished"? Brakes look new, plus it has track ends. Club/path racer originally perhaps?"

Seller is silent as to whether he will ship outside UK.

serial number H24971 would be produced in 1951 to 1961. http://www.hetchins.org/302b.htm

Photo is poor but the head tube lugs look like the Magnum Bonum lugs. See http://www.hetchins.org/501mb-01.htm Experto Crede and Magnum Bonum designs both had those question mark design fork crown (perhaps other models too).

It's hard to tell for sure due to the photo, but the Reynolds decal looks a bit newer? That indicates the frame could have been repainted or perhaps not and just a broken/damaged Reynolds decal was replaced. Either way, it doesn't seem to matter to me if the bike frame has good bones.

Chainring is probably period correct. Pedals look newer like the brakes as you said. That's a good GB stem, which would be period correct. Front hub has wingnuts so it is probably old. Track ends are not unusual for road use. Sturmey hub not unusual either. It looks like it has not been refurbished for decades except for the brakes.

If this bike had been well presented with photos and information, you would probably have to put in a strong bid to win. It may not go for as high as it could otherwise due to its presentation.

Peter Brueggeman
La Jolla California USA
4peebee(at)peterbrueggeman.com