Hi group. I have a mid 1950's Hetchins that I purchased quite reasonably due to a considerable amount of "surface rust" showing on it's original finish. Once it was bead blasted a smallish hole appeared at the base of one of the seat stays. It's now up in the rafters awaiting spare time, and a new pair of pencil stays. The rear triangle on this bike was factory chromed; and as Greg Reiche previously pointed out, this seems to increase the possibility of serious corrosion. The non chromed portions of the frame exhibited some superficial pitting in places, but nothing that would require anything like tube replacement.
Greg Lone
Langley B.C.
Canada