I'm moving to Marin at the end of the month and a few projects have to go. I'm giving you guys the first shot at it. What I'm offering is a 1962 Hetchins straight stay frameset. The seat tube is 59 ctc (a tad too small for me, but I'd make an exception for this one if I had room!) with a 58 cm top tube. It has an Experto Crede bb shell with the cables running under. The lugs and crown are Nervex, but not the Professionals. Something about these makes me think of a bird's head. The crown has the single point in the middle. The drop outs are Agrati and do not have a gear hanger boss, but do have mudguard eyes. Angles as close I can measure are 72 degrees parallel. The fork rake looks like a Bianchi Specialissima, not too much like is common on a lot of British steeds with a very Bianchi-like graceful bend. The bb height with sprints is about 10 3/8, a bit higher with 27s. There are two pump pegs on the seat tube, lamp bracket on right fork blade, brake cable stops on the top tube (two at the front, one at the rear), cable stop on right chainstay and two tunnels on the underside of the bb shell. The shell might be cast, it says Hetchins in raised letters.
Front center is 23.5", rear center (shortest) is 17.5", wheelbase is 40 3/8". The rear drop outs give you 1 1/8" of adjustability from shortest to longest. 120mm rear spacing.
The frame is sound but does need paint. There is no chrome, except for the headset which is serviceable and included. The HS is short a few ball bearings, but you should be replacing all of them anyway.
The original color scheme is flamboyant purple (over a silver base coat) with light blue head tube and panels on the seat tube. The lugs are picked out in gold, the typical English wrap-over seat stay attachment has a little design, also in gold stripe to match the lug lining. All that remains of the original headbadge are the two rivets...sigh!
This bike was GORGEOUS when new and is an easy restoration to get it back to original nick. Ed Litton is familiar with the paint scheme and I believe has the decals. As typical with all frames with the wrap over stays, It could use reaming for easy post insertion. Having measured everything, I would expect this to be an excellent handling bicycle for long days in the saddle. This is an unusual model (AFAIK) with a faded finish, however, you could ride it as is for years if you do a wee bit of srface rust mitigation.
The first $600 plus shipping takes it away. I'll send pictures to anyone who is serious. If I've forgotten anything...ask.
Contact me off list.
Stevan Thomas Danville, CA
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