Tom, I have a Nulli Secundus (#503574) that was made in April, 1950. It still has the internal headset. I was under the impression that the Super Special was renamed for the 1949 Earl's Court show to introduce the Latin Series lugs. I am not sure when they stopped using the internal headset but it was not related to the name of the model. My NS has round forks and orthodox stays. My guess is that it was built to complete an order Hetchins might have taken at the 1949 show. David Cooper Chicago, IL
On Feb 18, 2005, at 1:17 PM, Thomas Rawson wrote:
Pete,
As you know Im just a student of this stuff. And I like thinking about it about as much as owning the bikes. I do attempt to merge what we believe we know with the kind of thinking I used to do as a Product Manager (gun industry). I guess that could be called conjecture. But my hope is to challenge conventional wisdom/thinking so that eventually a better understanding of what went on emerges.
This is the kind of thing that led to Flash rewriting of the Hetchins manufacturing history and relationship to Bob Jackson a couple years ago. That history, for anyone interested, is in the CR archive and can be found on Flash' website. Flash, Len and Hilary Stone are way out in front of all of us on the subject of Hetchins. Its fun to try and catch up.
Its my understanding based on interaction with Len and Flash that the Super Special, introduced in 1945 (and ran to approximately 1950), was renamed (with minor physical changes) the Nulli Secundus. That renaming occured in 1950 at the same time the Latin Series was launched. We tend to think the launch of the Latin Series was significant and quite unique in the bike bus, particularly at that time, for a couple reasons. First it was a series or system - not just one new model. Second and I think more important, it was another example of Hetchins attempt to set themselves apart from everyone else by using proprietary lugs. The "early" (pre Latin) models that you prefer eg. various Brilliants, Competition, Massed Start, Anglo Continental used purchased lugs from companies like Chater Lea. Problem was, from Hetchins point of view (I conjecture) that their lugs looked pretty much like everyone else's in the '30s and '40s.
The Super Special is special in that its lugs were unique - unlike anything generally available on other bicycle brands. Since no one is around from the time and there are no marketing committee meeting notes left behind, we dont know what went into the choice of the the term "Latin Series" nor where the names Nulli Secundus, Experto Crede, Magnum Bonum, Magnum Opus, Vade Mecum came from. We can however see the Latin derivation. The Super Special therefore is the first of the Hetchins with distinctive, proprietary ornate lugs and its success I conjecture, contributed to the creation of the Latin Series. The Super Special sans internal headset bearings was renamed Nulli Secundus and was part of the launch of the Latins. It can therefore be thought of as the first Latin.
And to Mick - with regard to Six Day models they came both ways - track dropouts or set up with gear hangers. What makes a Six Day a Six Day (sorry) is the crushed seat tube.
Tom Rawson
Oakland, CA