Harvey,
Some folks knock Hetchins and other Brit frames because the view the curly design of the rear triangles on Vibrant Stay model, with intricate lug patterns as being over the top, wheras for me it's all a matter of taste. The Keyhole sale is one I missed. If I had seen it in time I would have grabbed it quickly, as the Keyhole is a favorite of mine, not overly done in design and very tasteful. I appreciate your point of view as it's similar to mine.
Regarrds,
Peter Naiman
Glendale, WI
USA
From: Harvey Sachs <hmsachs@verizon.net> Subject: [CR] Hetchins keyhole lug pattern frame/fork...was Masi prices To: hersefan@comcast.net, "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Date: Sunday, May 16, 2010, 1:58 PM
Mike Kone wrote:
we just put a Hetchins keyhole lug pattern frame/fork on ebay - lots of patina but really really cool. It is 55ct and a bit over 56cm cc top tube.
It is from 1980's and according to the Hetchins org website, it is a pre-Bob Jackson example. The frame/fork, is set at $645 with buy-it-now.
The link is:
http://ebay.com/
Mike - My only Hetchins is from the 70's, and a "modern" Italia Spyder. I don't know much about the marque, but the one at auction saddens me a bit. Somehow, the lug slots/holes, the "keyhole" effect, just read funny to me. They don't seem to flow with the shorelines or shapes of the lugs. It's particularly true for those on the sides of the head lugs. Of course, this is just my esthetic opinion, just as some folks prefer brunettes to blondes. Has nothing to do with performance, but that and the fork just don't have coherence for me.
Good luck with finding her a new home; I'm sure that someone with different preferences will love the bike.
harvey sachs
mcLean va.