I too have a 52 Hetchins Nulli (not so pristine as Dale's) and it has thicker cast or forged dropouts, no derailleur hanger.
John Siemsen Portland, Oregon
Message: 10 Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:51:05 -0800 From: "Dale B. Phelps" <losgatos_dale@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [CR] Dropouts on eBay Hetchins To: verktyg <verktyg@aol.com>, <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>, John D Proch <johnprochss@yahoo.com> Message-ID: <673661.93324.qm@web113606.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
From: John D Proch <johnprochss@yahoo.com>
I understand that pre 1956 Hetchins used all cast dropouts.
Regards, John Proch La Grange, Texas Thats not my observation, as one example, I have a 50-52 Nulli secundus, which many consider to be a Super Special like the eBay bike. The dropouts on my bike are stamped? Chater Lea. On every pre-'50 hetchins I have seen with forged ("cast"?) dropouts, they were replaced prior to a respray. In the case of the eBay bike, if those dropouts were replaced (likely) it was long before the most recent re-spray, they are seriously knackered under the paint!?
f.w.i.w.
e-Dale
Montagna lunga Colorado USA