VINTAGE & Cro-mo and Other Bike

[phaitoon]

1978 Spyder Fastback

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Spyder fastback
1978

This Spyder features fastback stays, original paint and transfers, and mostly Campag Super Record components (the crankset and seat pin are newer). The handle bar, stem, and saddle are by Cinelli. The fastback stays give a short and stiff back end, and the fork has very little rake to it, which made this a state-of-the-art criterium racer in its day.

[phaitoon]

1983 Vitus Keyhole

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Vitus Keyhole
criterium racing frame
Leeds?, ca. 1983

This frame is a mystery. We do not know whether it was a one-off, or a prototype which never went into production. Many things about it are noteworthy. First, it is made of Vitus tubes: the seat, top, and down tubes are oval in cross-section. (Thanks to an alert reader who kindly supplied a fitting seat pin.) Second, the lug pattern is an extended Keyhole; the points are much longer than usual for Keyholes. There are up to five holes, connected by slots; the usual points allowed only three holes. Fourth, the head badge is unique. Fifth, the full-chrome finish is quite unusual this late in the season. The frame was made to race: note the vertical dropouts, steep fork rake and spartan fork crown, close clearance, and lever boss on top of the dt. The frame recently changed hands in unbuilt condition and is now fitted with its first set of components. A rare find indeed.

Fotos courtesy of the owner.

[phaitoon]

1984 Keyhole

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Keyhole touring bike
Leeds, 1984

This 24-inch Keyhole was a special order for a customer in East Anglia. The sales receipt gives the date as 12 Nov 1984 in Alf's writing. The frame is in excellent original condition, featuring butter-yellow enamel, red trim, chromed head badge (rather rare for the mid 1980s), and engraved topeyes. The frame was built by Jackson Cycles in Leeds (verified by serial number).

The groupset is mixed and mostly as ordered: Stronglight 80 crankset, Stronglight headset, Shimano Stx down tube levers and derailleurs (rear only is indexed), Weinmann brakes, Mafac brake levers, Cinelli handle bar and engraved GB stem, Brooks B17 saddle on SR seat pin, Royce hi-flange hubs with titanium spindles, 700c Alesa Endeavor rims, Blackburn rack.

The owner very generously loaned the bike to the editor for a 12-mile ride through the English countryside near St. Ives ('I met a man with seven wives'). It is a very nimble bike.

[phaitoon]

1984 Magnum Bonum Spyder

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Magnum Bonum Spyder
touring bike
1984

One of the last Magnum Bonums made. Alf retired two years later in 1986 and sold the shop. After that, the Mag. Bonum was replaced by the Scorpion Bonum model. Mag. Bonums were part of the regular catalog offerings in the 1950s and 60s, but appear to have been made only as special orders in the later years. This one was ordered by Les Piper, who owned a number of other Hetchins as well. It was purchased 10 years later in unridden condition.

The geometry of the frame is gentle with a long wheelbase, ideal for touring.

The groupset is mixed: TA Criterium triple crankset, Dura Ace down tube levers and derailleurs (rear only is indexed, 7-speed), Dura Ace brake levers, Suntour Superbe pedals, Cinelli handle bar and stem, Campag Delta brakes, Brooks saddle on Dura Ace seat pin. It was originally fitted with 27" wheels on Mavic hubs; it is now fitted with 622 ERTRO wheels.
More fotos

[phaitoon]

1984-6 Time Trial

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Scorpion Bonum
Time Trial Bike
Southend, 1984-6?

This frame was probably made in 1984 in Southend. Later, it was taken to the USA for the 1987(?) cycle show in Long Beach California. It remained in California for many years, but was eventually returned to the UK, cleaned up, and built up with period-correct components.

The color scheme is light blue enamel with dark blue headstock, chrome ends.

Components are Campag 175mm Strada single chainset, Campag pedals & clips, Campag Super Record rear mech, modified ttt bars on ttt adjustable stem, Campag Record brakeset, Mavic 700c Monthillery Route sprint rims on Campag Record S/F hubs, Blue suede Turbo saddle on Campag Super Record seatpin.

The lug pattern is Scorpion Bonum. There is no braze-on for a front mech on the seat tube or for a front gear lever on the down tube; the frame features vertical drop-outs with no mudguard eyes, and very close clearance for sprint rims. The curved seat tube gives the frame a very short wheelbase of 37 1/2". For comparison, a typical Hetchins tourer might have a wheelbase of 41 1/2" and a typical road race bike 40". This means it was designed as a time trial machine. It is a very rare design.

Fotos courtesy of Bob Johnson.

[phaitoon]

1985-6 Magnum Bonum Spyder

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Magnum Bonum Spyder
special touring
1985 or 86.

This is one the last frames made during the Southend period.

The model is Magnum Bonum with Spyder lugs, very similar to the 1984 Magnum Bonum Spyder also featured at this site. Both show the special attention to individual customer details characteristic of the last days of the Southend operation: specially cut seat tube embellishments, extra tangs, and so on.

The frame is 22.5 inches. The color scheme is purple with green bands; chrome headlugs, seatlugs, b/b, fork crown & ends. Components include Campag Record groupset (incl. pedals), Cinelli bars & stem, Mavic 700c MA 40 rims on Campag Record hi-flange hubs, Cinelli saddle on Campag Record twin-bolt seatpin.

Fotos courtesy of Bob Johnson.

[phaitoon]

MODERN PERIOD 1987 to PRESENT


1987 Magnum Bonum MK 1 Prototype

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Magnum Bonum Mk 1
Leeds, 1987

This 22 ฝ" vibrant Magnum Bonum was one of two made specifically for the 1987 Hetchins catalog; they have sequential serial numbers. Click here to see the other one. The frame has no braze-ons, as this gives a neater appearance for catalog photographs. This frame represents a transition period in Hetchins lug design; the earlier Mag. Opus and Mag. Bonum models were being re-designed, and this frame was the prototype or catalog frame for the newly re-designed Mag. Bonum. For similar transition-period Mag. Opuses, see 1986 MO and 1987 MO pair. By the time the catalog went to press, the new Mag. Bonum had been replaced by the Scorpion Bonum; in the event, this frame did not appear in the catalog at all and this design did not go into production.

The color scheme is turquoise flam, with gold bands.

The components consist of the Campag Super Record 6-speed groupset including pedals with titanium axles and Hetchins toe straps, Cinelli leather covered bars on Cinelli stem, gold Mavic Record du Monde D'heure 700c sprint rims on Campag Record large flange hubs, Regal Girardi saddle on Campag Super Record seatpin.

Fotos courtesy of Bob Johnson.

[phaitoon]

1987 Magnum Bonum catalog frame

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Magnum Bonum
Leeds, 1987

This 22 ฝ" vibrant Magnum Bonum was one of two made specifically for the 1987 Hetchins catalog; they have sequential serial numbers. Click here to see the other one. The frames have no braze-ons, as this gives a neater appearance for catalog photographs. This frame represents a transition period in Hetchins lug design; the earlier Mag. Opus and Mag. Bonum models were being re-designed, and these frames were the prototypes or catalog frames for the newly re-designed Mag. Bonum. For similar transition-period Mag. Opuses, see 1986 MO and 1987 MO pair. By the time the catalog went to press, the new Mag. Bonum had been replaced by the Scorpion Bonum; in the event, this frame did not appear in the catalog at all and this design did not go into production.

The color scheme is pale green flam, maroon bands; note the asymmetric chroming on the chain stays.

The components are 1999 Campag Veloce/Mirage 9-speed groupset, Campag Victory pedals, Mavic MA2 700c rims, Cinelli saddle.

Fotos courtesy of Bob Johnson.

[phaitoon]

1987 Magnum Opus 6-Day

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Magnum Opus 6-Day
Leeds, 1987

This Magnum Opus Mk iii bears a very low 87xxx serial number, indicating it to have been one of the first Jackson-builds in 1987. It features a dimpled seat tube, making it a 6-Day model (rather rare for this vintage). The owner reports: [It was ] "originally made up with Campagnolo Strada Record; I have replaced front and rear derailleurs, pedals, and brakes with C-Record including Delta brakes. The [rest] remains the same: Cinelli bars and stem, Campag Record hi-flange sprint wheels, Campag Record chainset and Campag Electra saddle.

[The finish] is by Mercian and is very simple: Emerald Green flamboyant with gold lug lining. I think this simplicity creates a true classic finish. There is enough beauty in the lugs without "gilding the lily" with too many fancy colors and unnecessary chrome work--but everyone to his own view."

Fotos courtesy of the owner.

[phaitoon]

Magnum Opus
Leeds, 1987+

This Magnum Opus represents the standard Jackson-built design, introduced in 1987 and continuing to this day. It was purchased new in 1992 and features a complete original Campag Graphite groupset and an engraved Cinelli stem--very stylish.

[phaitoon]

Scorpion Bonum pair mid 1980s

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These two Scorpion Bonums were made in the mid 1980s. The turquoise-colored one was made by Jackson Cycles in Leeds shortly after Alf had sold the business; the black one probably just before. The model was introduced by Alf in the 1985 catalog. It featured Spyder lugs, a plain bb shell, and short tangs for ornamentation. Not many were built.

[phaitoon]

1988 Time Trial

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Time Trial bike
Leeds, 1988

In case anyone thought no one seriously races Hetchins any more . . . .

[phaitoon]

Magnum Opus
Leeds, 1987+

This Magnum Opus represents the standard Jackson-built design, introduced in 1987 and continuing to this day. It was purchased new in July 1990, probably one of the last bikes sold at Southend before the shop was sold and the show room was transferred to Leeds. It features a complete original Campag Chorus groupset with Cinelli stem and bars, and Flite Titanium saddle--very stylish. The color scheme is dark blue enamel with pearl white panels, gold trim.

Fotos courtesy of the owner.

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[phaitoon]

1990 Magnum Opus deluxe

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Magnum Opus deluxe special order
Leeds, 1990



This Magnum Opus deluxe was a special order for a dealer, Damien Gerber, in Cologne, Germany. The frame was delivered without parts; Gerber had the Campag C-Record parts engraved and mounted. It served as a display model for prospective Hetchins customers. The color is Post Office Red enamel. The saddle appears to be lizard skin; the TTT handle bar is also covered in leather. This is undoubtedly one of the most fabulous Hetchins ever put together. Size: seat tube 54 cm, top tube 55 cm (c-to-c), wheelbase 101 cm. The bike has very few miles on it. It now belongs to a collector in Seattle.

I recall a visit to Gerber's shop in Cologne in the 1990s. He offered only top quality frames and components. He took me downstairs and showed me his 'vault'. There were racks up to the ceiling stacked with original Nuovo Record yellow and Super Record blue Campag boxes, everything from mechs to brakes to pedals to crank sets. All new, originally packaged. The atmosphere in there was still and special, like the treasure chamber of a pharoah's tomb.

[phaitoon]

1991 tandem

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tandem
Leeds, 1991

This tandem features Magnum Opus lugs and curly stays. It was built in 1991 by Danny Foster at Jackson Cycles, Leeds--one of only two known to have been made by Jackson's. The color scheme is post office red with sky blue panels and trim. The components include a mostly Campag groupset (brakes, levers, hubs, mechs, seat pins, pedals), TTT bar and stem, Flyte ti saddles.