VINTAGE & Cro-mo and Other Bike

[phaitoon]

1965 Vade Mecum Mk I

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Vade Mecum Mk I
Tottenham, 1965

The Vade Mecum model was revamped for the 1964 catalog and issued in three variants, the MK I, II, and III, the Mk I being the least fancy of the three new ones, though more fancy than the original Vade Mecum from the early 1950s. The revamped Vade Mecum series was not popular; few are know to have survived. Many Hetchins customers in the 1960s and 70s fell into one or the other of two classes: 1) those who wanted a Mag.Opus and could afford it, and 2) those who couldn't and went for the plainer models (such as Italia or Keyhole). Although the original VM had been popular, the revamped one was somewhere in between the Mag.Opus and Italia in price and therefore failed to find a real market niche. The one featured here was resprayed and is in very good condition.

The components on the above bike include: GB Coureur brakes, Shimano 600 levers, Shimano pedals, Stronglight crank, Campag hubs and mech, Raleigh stem, ITM bar, Brooks saddle.



1965 Magnum Opus

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Magnum Opus
Tottenham, 1965

This is a typical MO ii from the mid 60s. It was renovated in bright green and cream enamel, and features a complete Campag NR group set, Cinelli bar and stem, and Brooks saddle.

The fotos in orange show the bike in unrestored condition, with original paint and mixed components.

[phaitoon]

1965 Magnum Opus

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Magnum Opus
Tottenham, 1965

This is 26" MO ii is from the mid 60s. It has been restored in black and cream enamel. Components include: Mafac cantilever brakes, complete Campag group set, GB bar and stem, Brooks Swallow saddle, and Blumels mud guards. Note the extra braze-ons on the fork blades for generator and light. The position of the round brazed-on lamp socket indicates whether the frame was made for the UK domestic market or USA export: right side = UK, left side = USA export. This frames was for the UK market.

[phaitoon]

1967 Vade Mecum Hellenic

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Vade Mecum Mk I
Tottenham, 1967

This frame is interesting for several reasons. First, it has the Hellenic triangle. Hellenics were introduced in 1967, the first one having been sold in July. This is probably among the first dozen produced, and less than two dozen are known to have survived.

Second, it has Vade Mecum Mk I lugs. This pattern does not seem to have sold particularly well, though it is quite handsome.

Of special interest is the hand-painted lettering on the dt and tt. It is not known who did this, whether Dick Swann in the Tottenham shop from new, or possibly some later re-sprayer. A previsous owner's name and cycling club were painted on the tt as well.

The frame has changed hands several times, and one previous owner had it partially re-sprayed; this accounts for the fotos above with different paint on the triangle and fork blades, and different components. The current color scheme is gold main tubes, white triangle and fork blades.

The components are as follows: Campag Record chainset, hi-flange hubs, seat post, rear mech, dt shifters; GB 66 center-pull brakes with GB levers (but Weinmann hoods); the pedals are Lyotard Berthet flat top; the saddle is a Middlemores swallow pattern; Cinelli bar and a custom milled stem. The owner reports: "The frame had just the right hand shifter boss brazed on. I didn't wish to repaint the frame so I made a clamp with a Campagnolo shifter boss silver-brazed on the left side for a double lever. I made it from stainless steel and clamped it with a standard bolt/nut, this way it can be removed to revert to original."

Fotos courtesy of the owners.

[phaitoon]

1967 Magnum Bonum Hellenic

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Magnum Bonum Hellenic
London, 1967

This Magnum Bonum with Hellenic stays is equipped as a tourer; note the extra mounting bosses for the specially-made rear panier. The Hellenic stays, crossing the seat tube lower down than otherwise, allow a larger bag to be carried under the seat. The paint is British racing green. The components are: TA triple crankset (52-42-30 T); 14-34 T block; Campag Gran Turismo mech, Record front changer, hi-flange hubs, seat pin; Mafac center-pull brakes; GB Randoneur bars; Lyotard platform pedals; Weinman rims, 27" tires.

[phaitoon]

1969 Magnum Bonum full chrome

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Magnum Bonum
London, 1969

This Magnum Bonum still has the original chrome and transfers on it; it is a rarity in having quite a good polish on the two trouble spots (behind the seat lug, and the bb shell). By this time, the question-mark tang on the fork seems to have gone out of style; the fork on this one bears the medium-length fleur-de-lis tang.

The bike is equiped with Campag cranks and mechs, bar end shifters, hi-flange hubs, seat post; Brooks saddle, Mafac center-pull brakes, and an elegant Cinelli stem and handle bar complete the components.

[phaitoon]

1969 Magnum Bonum Hellenic

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Magnum Bonum Hellenic
London, ca.1969

Hellenic stays could be ordered with most any lug design, in this case Mag. Bonum. This bike is equipped with Campag cranks and mechs, bar end shifters, Brooks saddle, and Mafac cantilever brakes.

[phaitoon]

1970 Vade Mecum III deluxe

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Vade Mecum III deluxe
touring bike
Tottenham, 1970.

This bike was originally ordered by a man in California; it changed hands ten years later and was restored by Hetchins to original spec. The original documentation can be seen, too.

The original 1970s groupset is intact: TA triple crankset at the front: 50/40/28. Nuovo Record gear changers front and rear. The front gear changer has been lightened on seat tube mount. The rear gear changer has a specially fitted long cage to take up chain slack when riding on the small front chainring. Originally it came with a steel one made by Spence Wolff of Cupertino bike shop; this has been replaced by a more elegant design in aluminum. Suntour 'ratchet' type bar end shifters are fitted to a Cinelli bar and stem. Otherwise, the bike has the complete original Campag NR groupset, incl. hi-flange hubs, brakes and levers, black-cage Strada pedals, and twin-bolt seat pin. The unusual cut-away saddle with aluminum frame is by Ideale.

The paint is purple flamboyant with gold blush on the seat tube. Originally it had half-chromed stays; during restoration, the chainstays were chromed full-length to avoid chain chips.

[phaitoon]

1974 Experto Crede Hellenic

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Experto Crede Hellenic
ca. 1974

This 23-1/2" Experto Crede Hellenic is a winter rider for its owner. The components are mixed Campag Nuovo and Super Record, Mafac Racer center-pull brakes, Cinelli steel stem with badge, Cinelli alu bar, Brooks saddle.

[phaitoon]

1977 Magnum Opus Special Order

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Magnum Opus
special order
Southend, ca. 1977

This Magnum Opus was a special order for a frequent customer, Les Piper. His initials, L.B.P., were cut into the elaborate seat tube ornament. This frame features the first known engraved top eyes. These touches are typical of the 1970s when, as Alf said, "the customer got what he wanted." Mr. Piper never rode it. It is now owned by a collector in Kiel, Germany. The parts include Campag Super Record gear changer and crank set. Note the leather inserts in the gear levers. The two-tone black and gold brakes are by Dia-Compe. The rims are Araya Titanium (for sew-up tires). The saddle is by Brooks. The color is post-office red enamel with silver panels, pale blue trim, and gold pin striping.

[phaitoon]

1981 Magnum Opus

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Magnum Opus
Tottenham, 1981

This frame from 1981 shows the MO Ph. II design at its zenith, featuring italianate seat stay ends. The double plate fork crown became scarce only a few years later. Note the transition to oval chain stays. The components are the complete Campag Anniversary Edition groupset.

[phaitoon]

1980s Mixte

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Mixte
ca. 1983-4

This lady's touring bike was made in the mid-1980s and still bears its original gold paint.

The bike is equipped with mixed, mostly-period components, including Stronglite cranks with TA chain ring, Weinmann center-pull brakes, Suntour mech, Campag headset bearing. The panier is original.

Fotos courtesy of the owner.

[phaitoon]

1986 Magnum Opus Special

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Magnum Opus Special
1986

This 22 ฝ" vibrant Magnum Opus features special lugs and detailing. This is one of the last frames made during the Southend period and represents a transitional model from the MO Phase II (cast lugs) to Phase III (pressed lugs). The lugs on this frame are pressed 3-window long point lugs with heart-shaped cut-outs; short fleur-de-lys tangs have been added. This system, with variations of detail (slashes, longer tangs, etc.), formed the basis of the MO Phase III to come.

The color scheme is black with red bands; chrome forks, rear triangle, headlugs, bottom bracket and seat lugs, and fastback seat stays.

The components consist of a full Campagnolo 50th Anniversary groupset, Cinelli bar & stem, red Ambrosia 700c rims on Campag Anniversary lo-flange hubs, Brooks Professional saddle on Anniversary seatpin.
More fotos

Fotos courtesy of Bob Johnson.

[phaitoon]

Post Latin Series 1960 to 1986


1960 Brilliant

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Brilliant
London, 1960

This is a 21-1/2 inch frame with vibrant stays, Circuit of Britain (COB) road racing geometry, and Brilliant lugs. It was first sold in the summer of 1961.

The components include: tires Continental; rims Weinmann Alesa 27 x 1-1/4; spokes Union Chome DB 14-16; hubs Campagnolo 1962 (no "Record" on hub shell); headset Campagnolo (with bracketed "C" on lower cup; handle bars Cinelli 1st generation Alloy Giro D' Italia (non-anodized), stem Cinelli Record 1A (polished); seat post Campagnolo; saddle Brooks Professional; brakes Universal Model 51 w/pointed-tip levers; front changer Campagnolo Record w/chromed bronze pivot and cable stop; mech Campagnolo Record; crankset Campagnolo Record 2nd generation w/raised pedal lip 50/44; bb Camapgnolo Record w/Bayless Wiley lockring from original Hetchins bb; block Regina G.S. Corse 14-28; pedals Campagnolo Record.

The frame was restored by Matt Assenmacher of Michigan to original colors (dark blue) with silver trim. The three-color Script dt transfer was specially reproduced for this restoration. One of the best restorations this Editor has seen.

Fotos courtesy of the owner. For more information on the restoration project, click here.

[ALP]

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[peericky]

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