Re: [CR]What qualifies a frame or cycle as rare ?

(Example: Production Builders:LeJeune)

Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2005 08:03:40 +0000 (GMT)
From: "Michael Butler" <pariscycles@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [CR]What qualifies a frame or cycle as rare ?
To: CR Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: 6667


Well said Peter about the rarity of Hetchin's frames. You are a 100% right in your assertion that they are as common as muck. The reason I think for this is that they were never really popular with the ordinary, racing or real cyclists. Very expensive and rather flash for conservative British tastes but they were made in large numbers. Probably for the poseur market or non cyclists this is probably why they have survived in such great numbers and mostly in surprisingly good condition. Never ridden that much or in anger. Admittedly there are some rarities the "Trio" in particular but what cyclists in their right mind would by this abortion. Very poor and unpractical design. I went around to visit an 80 year old cyclists ex National official the other day and we got all his bound copies of Cycling magazines out from the late 1930's through to the early 80's. Guess what only a handful of pictures with people riding Hetchin's and the majority of these were of Van Kempen on our tracks in Six Day races. Just get the old mags out and you will struggle to find one and they ain't that difficult to spot especially the Vibrants. No you are spot on this one well done. Thats the great thing about experts like you Flash and Len you know more and more about less and less by dedicating your research to a single marque.

Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.