Oh what a day it has been. Start off with a ride with Lou Deeter and his friend John and end the day by picking up if not the oldest then one of the oldest Hetchins in the US. It must be beginners luck. Last weekend the Pauley and this weekend a Brilliant No. 2. Being the novice that I am any input or knowledge on this bike and others will be most welcomed. The chap that I bought it from had a lot of paper work for the bike including the Hetchins Register from 1997 although things do change and bikes might have surfaced since that time. This bike shows up as the fourth on the resister, but as I understand it the #2 bike has never been seen and one bike surfaced that was made before this one. The bikes frame number is 512105 with the Original owner being Spinks, but the paper work shows that was the cycle shop that is was purchased from and that a Mr. A Freschini placed the order for the frame Dec. 8th 1935 and the frame was delivered on Jan. 25th, 1936. In the paper work the seller gave me is a letter from Mr. Freschinis brother stating that he never rode a Hetchins so maybe the order was placed and never followed through on. Below is a description of the bike.
1935 Hetchins curly-21"c-c. Brilliant No. 2, Hand-built with Reynolds 531, Frame no. 512105. Re-sprayed by Argos, U.K. in 1997, Buttermilk-cream with dark green box lining + 4" chrome fork ends. Professionally rebuilt by Mr. Ray Etherton of Classic Bikes, Maldon, U.K. using NOS Chater-Lea fittings throughout. Constrictor 26"x1 1/4". Rims NOS fitted with World Tour tyres on Resillion chrome l/f front hub with Sturmey Archer chrome wing nuts. Rear NOS Constrictor rim with rebuilt S/A K5 3-speedx 20t with quadrant changer on top tube. C/L pedals and period wire toe clips with Alfredo Binda leather q/r straps. North Road chrome handlebars on swan neck extension. Halfords center pull brakes. Brooks B-18 saddle, Rollo pump. Lucas mileometer. Bluemels mudguards, front (repaired) fitted with large period mudflap. Ridden 78 dry summer miles in England since rebuild, and dry stored since. Spare frame transfer, records and letters, 4th oldest frame recorded on Hetchins register.
In the stack of documents that was given to me with the bike there is a 1946 Cyclists Touring Club membership card issued to a A. J. Taylor the second owner.
Sometime next week upon returning home I will post photos of the bike and its fittings.
To all a very pleasent weekend and hope the miles that you ride are fun and dry.
Mark Poore
Lady Lake, FL for the next few days
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