VINTAGE & Cro-mo and Other Bike

[phaitoon]

Latin Series 1950 to 1986

1950 Nulli Secundus

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Nulli Secundus
show frame
London, 1950

This is the first Nulli Secundus built and was exhibited as the prototype for this model. It was sold on 21st March 1950 for 20 pounds, 16 shillings, 6 pence. Production frames often showed minor differences to show frames; of note here are the windows in the head lugs. Some later production Nullis lacked them.

The bike is equipped with the following components: Titan adjustable stem with unknown track bars, Coloral double water bottle set, Weinmann Deluxe 500 anodized caliper brake, Bartali brake lever, Blumfield Ultralite hubset, the rear is a fixed gear, Constrictor 40/32 alloy rims, spokes tied and soldered, Reynolds alloy wingnuts, Alatet headset, Titan 27.2 seatpin, Brooks Champion B17 Narrow, Williams inch pitch chainset, Lyotard platform track pedals, Stallard dropouts.

Fotos courtesy of the owner.

[peericky]

Hetchin's Own Hetchins

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Did you ever wonder what Hyman Hetchin himself rode? Did you ever wonder where the Latin Series came from? These two questions may have one and the same answer.

This frame was made in 1948 (verified by serial number, and not 1935 as reported in Hugh O'Neill's article). The records list the frame as a 20-1/2" E C Show Model. There was a trade fair at Earls Court that year; this is presumably the meaning of "E C Show Model." Jack Denny's daughter confirmed that this is indeed that frame.

Alf had it renovated and it was seen in its present state in about 1980; it was photographed for this web site in July 2010. Alf claimed that it had been made for his father, Hyman. The size 20-1/2" would have been about right for Hyman (who was not tall). The rear dropouts are not original as the right one is Campag with mech-eye (unknown in 1948). However, the head and seat lugs are certainly original, as no one would have built a frame with belled head lugs in 1980. Also the fork embellishment looks to be original 1948, as is the Chater Lea bb shell.

Supposing that the Earls Court Show frame was well-received, it is significant that, less than a year later, Denny and Hetch were presenting a whole new series of elaborately designed lugs at the 1949 lightweight trade show. It is a plausible assumption that the E C Show frame was made to test the waters. The result was positive and they went on to conceive the Latin Series as a response. This would therefore appear to have been the seminal Latin Series design. Hetchins was not the first or the only frame builder to offer elaborate lugwork, but it was Hetchins which put elaborate lugs on the map. This frame may be considered the grandfather of the Magnum Opus Mk III we know today.

The frame is currently in the possession of the Hetchin family.

น่าจะเป็นรถสมัย โรมัน เนอะ

[phaitoon]

1950 Magnum Opus Ph. I, Six-Day

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Magnum Opus
Six-Day track bike
London, 1950

This Mag. Opus type i curly is quite rare: the type i MO was produced for only two years from 1950 and was quickly replaced by the more elaborately lugged type ii. It features a fluted seat tube, reverse dropouts and a single gear. The frame has been recently renovated with Coronation transfers, full chrome fork, triangle, and head tube; the head badge is original.

The bike is equipped with the following components: single gear fixed cog; Chater Lea b/b, chainset, headclip; Chater Lea Sprint pedals; aluminum bars on Major Taylor stem (adjustable); CLB Professional brake calipers with GB Super hood levers; Harden lightweight hi-flange hubs (referred to in the catalogue or otherwise called Bacon Slicers); Constrictor ASP rims; Brooks B-17 Swallow saddle on an Reynolds alloy seatpin.

Fotos courtesy of the owner.

[phaitoon]

1951 Cognoscenti Track

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Cognoscenti
Six-Day Track
Tottenham, 1951

The Cognoscenti was introduced as part of the Latin Series in 1950, but it was not popular; only 25 were built and five are known to have survived.

This 22" vibrant Cognoscenti is a single fixed-gear track bike and features a fluted seat tube (hence, Six-Day Model) with Six-Day seat tube transfer.

The color scheme is black with chrome ends & headlugs.

The components consist of Chater Lea chainset, headclip & bb, Webb pedals, Bailey chrome track bars on chrome Cinelli stem, Fiamme sprint rims on Resilion large flange hubs, Brooks B17 Sprinter saddle on Reynolds alloy seatpin.

Fotos courtesy of Bob Johnson.

[phaitoon]

1951 Experto Crede

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Experto Crede
London, 1951

This Experto Crede was owned by a Yorkshireman for many years; he had it renovated by Argos of Bristol. The color scheme is green flam with red flam head tube and seat tube bands. The frame was first sold on 16th Feb. 1951. Very early Expertos, such as this is one, featured the Bonum-style question mark fork embellishment; later Expertos had simple fork crowns without embellishments. The frame size is 58 cm, c-to-c.

With the exception of the engraved GB handlebar, the components are vintage but not period-correct for a 50s bike. More modern components, mostly from the 70s, have been fitted to improve safety and rideability. They include: Mafac brake levers (NOS), Stronglight 80 triple crank set, TA pedals (also NOS, lovely things!); Campag NR hi-flange hubs, twin-bolt seat post, front and rear mechs, 6-sp. indexed d.t. shifters, head bearing, and NOS brake calipers; Mavic 27-inch rims with Conti Super Sport tires. The chromed stem was a special order from Rob Mather, finished in 2004.

[phaitoon]

1951 Magnum Opus gold-chrome

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Magnum Opus
early Phase II
London, 1951

This 25 inch Magnum Opus is of particular interest for a number of reasons.

First, the lug pattern is the Phase II version; the Phase II officially appeared in the catalogs in 1953, but this frame was made in late 1951. Note the flared head lugs for internal headset bearings and the plain topeye, both characteristic of pre-War frames. The seat lug lacks any embellishment at all along the seat tube. These features indicate that this is one of the first MO Phase IIs.

Second, the extraordinary gold-chrome finish is intact. This was achieved by fully chroming the frame first, then covering it with yellow-gold lacquer. Also note the triangular panel highlighting the fork tang (now somewhat faded after more than 50 years), sometimes seen on early 1950s Hetchins.

Third, the frame bears a complete set of Coronation transfers--down, seat, and top tubes--in original condition. One of the earliest surviving specimens.

The bike is equipped, as new, with the following components: Chater Lea chainset, b/b, headset bearing, and pedals; Campag Gran Sport mech; Titan stem, Maes bars; Mafac center-pull brakes; Dunlop 27 inch s/s rims on Campag hi-flange hubs; Weinmann s/s mudguards; Brooks Swallow saddle on Reynolds alloy seatpin.

A fine example of when not to renovate.
More fotos

[phaitoon]

1952 Magnum Opus full chrome

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Magnum Opus
track bike
London, 1952

This 23 1/2 inch Magnum Opus with orthodox stays has the original chrome and Six-Say seat tube transfer on it. It has a single gear, but standard forward-opening dropouts. Note the painted bottom bracket shell; this was to avoid having to polish a 'trouble spot'. Also note the triangle of paint highlighting the fork tang; this was typical of early 50s Hetchins.

The bike is equipped with the following components: single gear fixed cog; Chater Lea b/b, chainset and pedals; chrome bares on Major Taylor stem (adjustable); GB brakeset; Conloy 27 inch alloy rims on Airlite hi-flange hubs; Brooks Swallow saddle on Reynolds alloy seatpin.

[phaitoon]

1952 Experto Crede Six-Day

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Experto Crede Six-Day
London, 1952

This 23" Experto features a fluted seat tube (hence, Six-Day). It was first sold to the trade on 15th march 1952 for ฃ12.8s.6d. The bike was restored over the winter-spring of 2008-2009 everything was done by the current owner, apart from chroming and wheel building, lug lining was done by the current owner's wife.

The bike is equipped with period components including single speed fixed wheel with six gear options; 48t Chater-lea crankset; wood sprint rims (for grass track racing) built on Racelite large flange hubs; Toni Merkins stem with later Pista track bars; Brooks Swallow saddle with Reynolds seat post.

For road use and time-trialing Racelite hubs on Dunlop LA 27" HP rims are fitted instead, as well as Reynolds bar and stem with a GB front brake.

It is a show bike, but it is also ridden hard, as it was designed to be, and has recorded some respectable time trial results with the Newmarket cycling club.

Fotos courtesy of the owner.

[phaitoon]

1952 Nulli Secundus

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Nulli Secundus
Tottenham, 1952

This Nulli Secundus, built in 1952, first sold in 1955. The geometry is as follows: seat tube c-to-c 22.5 in, top tube c-to-c 22.5 in, wheelbase 41 in., bracket height 10.5 in. The fork is original and features the question-mark tang more commonly seen on the Magnum Bonum (and a few early Experto Credes). The color scheme is black and chrome.

The bike is equipped with the following components: Brampton Alatet headset, Cinelli Giro d’Italia bars, Brooks leather tape, Cinelli stem, TA 42/52 chainring, Stronglight 49D crank, MKS Sylvan pedals, Chrisophe clips, Brooks straps, Campagnolo hubs, Brooks B15 saddle, 6-speed block with indexed Shimano 105 rear mech/levers, Belelux front rod gear, Shimano 105 Super SLR dual-pivot brakes.

[phaitoon]

1953 Magnum Bonum

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Magnum Bonum
Tottenham, 1953

This Magnum Bonum from 1953 was one of the first made with Campagnolo dropouts. The frame was restored in the UK by David Miller of Hetchins Lightweight Cycles in 2008. Color scheme: gold flam with red trim, Coronation transfers. Components: Campagnolo Gran Sport 3 piece hubs, Rigida 16-22 rims made in Holland, Avocet Tyres 700 x 32, Stronglight 49D crank arms with TA 46T ring, Shimano 5 speed freewheel 14-28T, Regina chain, GB Randonneur bar and stem, Brooks Swallow saddle on Ideale adjustable clamp with straight seat pin, Brooks leather bar wrap, Campagnolo Gran Sport rear derailleur and single shifter, Bluemels Club Special mudguards, Mafac Dural Forge brakeset with flambouyant red housing to match mudguards, Lyotard pedals with Christophe clips and Bianchi Dino straps.

Fotos courtesy of the owner.

[phaitoon]

1954 Experto Crede Six-Day

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Experto Crede Six-Day,
London, 1954

This 23 ฝ" Experto features a fluted seat tube (hence, Six-Day). All original equipment includes Chater Lea cottered single chainset and pedals, Campag Gran Sport 4-speed rear mech, GB Sport brakeset, Reynolds Binda alloy bars on Reynolds lugged alloy stem, Dunlop 27” s/s rims on Chater Lea large-flange hubs, Cranalloy mudguards, Brooks B15 Competition saddle, and Reynolds alloy seatpin.
The full chrome finish is original. Note the highlighting on the fork blade, sometimes seen on 1950s frames.

Fotos courtesy of Bob Johnson.

[phaitoon]

1954 Magnum Bonum full chrome

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Magnum Bonum
London, 1954

This 22 3/4 inch Mag. Bonum curly has the original chrome and Coronation transfers on it. Note the question-mark tang with oval fork blades and compare this with the 1969 MB also featured at this site.

The bike is equipped as follows: Chater Lea chainset, b/b, pedals; Campag Gran Sport mech; Mafac cantilever brakes; GB bars and stem; Dunlop 27 inch alloy rims on Sturmey Archer 4 hub with double sprocket at the rear; Campag hi-flange front hub; Brooks Professional saddle on Reynolds alloy seatpin. The hub-gear lever is on the handle bar under the right brake lever; the mech shifter is on the down tube.

[phaitoon]

1955 Experto Crede, Type 6

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Experto Crede, Type 6,
London, 1955

This 24 ฝ" Experto was rescued from a rubbish tip in England. Some previous owner had had an eyelet added to the right rear dropout to take a mech, but otherwise the frame appeared to be in original condition. The paint was chipped, but there was no rust. The new owner had it restored by Argos of Bristol in red flam with gold trim.

The Type 6 was listed in the catalogs as a road racing frame, replica of the Tour of Britain model. This frame was first sold on 10 June 1955. Note the spear-point fork crown and oval fork blades, somewhat unusual for a Hetchins of this vintage. The lugs are cast (a pressed version appeared in 1956).

The components include Shimano Tiagra Flight Deck 9-speed brake/gear shifters, Shimano 105 crank set, mechs, and hubs (model HB-5501 VIA). The owner claims that the hub fits into the narrow 1950s dropouts as is; no spreading of the dropouts was necessary. The Dual-pivot brakes with old-style external hex-nut fitments are by Acor. Wheels are Mavic MA3 rims with Panaracer Pasela Tourguard 700/28 tires. This is an excellent example of how to keep an old beauty running and safe in modern traffic.
More fotos

Fotos courtesy of John Bennett.

[phaitoon]

1956 Vade Mecum

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Vade Mecum
London, 1956

This single gear Vade Mecum curly has been recently renovated and features a special paint job. The lustre changes color, depending on how the light strikes it; this pearly effect changes from dark purple to lavender. The components include GB Courceur brakes, Stronglight crank with TA chain ring, an unusual Brooks 5BN saddle, Concord bar and an elegant stem (possibly by Holdsworth).

[phaitoon]

1956 Magnum Bonum

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Magnum Bonum
Tottenham, 1956

This Magnum Bonum was first sold to R. Hanning of 188 High street, London N15, on 22 September 1956, and cost ฃ16 16s 0p. The original receipt is extant. It was ordered with strengthening struts to the seat and chain stays, probably for time trialing. It features black enamel finish with original painted head badge and hand lettering on the down tube. Components include Stronglight 49 crank with TA ring, Campag Gran Sport mech, Mafac Racer brakes and levers, Brooks saddle and Campag NR pin.


Fotos courtesy of Bob Johnson.