Hetchins models

THE VARIOUS MODELS

Hetchins production falls into the following periods:
Pre-War Tottenham, from 1934
Post-War Tottenham, until 1974
Southend-On-Sea, 1974 to April 1986
Modern Period:
Bob Jackson (Leeds), from May 1986 to 1993
David Miller, 1993 to present

Hetchin offered a large number of models over the years and the differences between them easily escape the untrained eye. Generally speaking, a model type is based on two factors: frame geometry and lug pattern. Almost any combination of lug pattern and geometry could be ordered. The catalog page below from the before the Latin Series was introduced (1949) is typical of Hetchins offerings from the 1930s up to the 1960s. It lists a number of frame types or geometries: Road Racing Nos. 3 and 3A, Road Racing No.4, Road Racing No.6 (replica of "Tour of Britain"), Path Model No.10, Circuit of Britain, Mountain King, and Track Supreme; they were distinguished by various head and seat tube angles, bottom bracket heights, and so on. All were available with curly or orthodox stays. A page from the catalog lists the various geometries (head and seat tube angles, bracket heights).

Prior to the introduction of the Latin Series (1949) most would have had Chater Lea Brilliant lugs or some modification thereof. From 1949 the following lug patterns were offered (available with any of the above geometries): Vade Mecum, Experto Crede, Nulli Secundus, Magnum Bonum, Magnum Opus, and Brilliant. Deluxe models usually had tangs added, for example to the brake bridge &/or bottom bracket shell, and extra chrome.

The choice of geometry was dictated by the rider's dimensions, and where and how he intended to ride (path, track, road racing, touring, etc.). The choice of lugs was dictated by the dimensions of the customer's wallet (or ego).

A few models, the Mountain King and the Plus, were offered as set packages (a fixed geometry and lug pattern). The Six-Day model was a racing machine characterized by a fluted seat tube (for short wheelbase) and could be ordered with any lug set.

The Trio featured a patented dual-slotted rear dropout and was offered with two forks, for road, path, and track use, giving different wheelbases depending on which fork and dropout slot were used. See below:

The following table of models was compiled by Len Ingram based on catalogs in his possession. Catalogs exist for the following years: 1935, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1946, ca. 1950, 1951, ca. 1953, ca. 1956, ca. 1960, ca. 1962, ca. 1964, 1985, and 1987. Dates in the right column indicate that the model was mentioned in the catalog of the year(s) given. However, frames are known which pre-date catalog entries. Some models continued to be produced after they no longer appeared in the catalog. Some models never appeared in any catalog.

model	catalog year
Brilliant No.1, No.2	1935 - 1940
Superbe Road	1935
De Luxe	1935
Ideal	1935
Ladies De Luxe	1935
Ideal No. 1 Tandem	1935
De Luxe Tandem	1935
Brilliant Tandem	1935
Competition Road or Path	1937 - 1940
Anglo-Continental	1937 - 1940
Super Sprinter	1937 - 1940
Olympic	1937
Brilliant Upright Tandem	1937 - 1940
Olympic Tandem	1937
Brilliant No. 3	1938 - 1940
Tour De France	1938 - 1940
Toni Merkens	1938 - 1950
Competition Short w/b Tandem	1938 - 1940
Super Brilliant	1940
TRIO	1940
Six-Day Road or Path	1940 - 1950
Super Special Road	1946 - 1950
Massed Start No. 1	1948
Massed Start No. 2	1948
Massed Start No. 3	1948
Super Massed Start	1948
Nulli Secundus	1950 - 1964
Magnum Opus Mk (I), II	(1950) 1951 - 1986
Experto Crede	1950 - 1964
Magnum Bonum	1951 - 1964
Vade Mecum	1953 - 1964
The Plus	1960 - 1964
Mountain King	1962 - 1964
Brilliant (Reintroduced)	1960 (catalog) 1953 (actual production) - 1962
Track Supreme	1962 - 1964
Italia	1964 - mid 1970s
Mountain King De Luxe	1964 - ?
Vade Mecum I	1964 - ?
Vade Mecum II	1964 - ?
Vade Mecum III	1964 - ?
Swallow/Spyder	1960 ? - ? *
Keyhole	1970 ? - ? *
Magnum Bonum Spyder	1984 ? - 1986 ? *
Novus Ductor	1985, 1987 - present
Scorpion Bonum	1985, 1987 - present
Magnum Opus Mk III	1985, 1987 - present
Italia (reintroduced)	1994 - 1995 *
Mag. Opus Millennium	2000 *
Mag. Opus Ultralite	2005 - present *
note:	* production years, but no catalog listing

There was a long gap in catalogs from 1964 to 1985. During this gap, 'the customer got what he wanted' was Alf's motto. Any of the Latin Series models could be ordered, as well as any of the models introduced in the 1960s, Swallow/Spyder, Mountain King, Italia, Keyhole, and so on, some of which were never listed in a catalog. In 1985, a new catalog was issued with a greatly reduced number of models: Novus Ductor, Scorpion Bonum, and Magnum Opus. Jackson Cycles produced another catalog in 1987; it featured slightly re-designed versions of the same three models. These three models are still available.

In addition, about 12 Magnum Bonum Spyders were produced in 1984 - 1986, though they were not listed in the catalog. About six Italias were produced in the 1990s, also not listed in any catalog.

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Below, front to back: Six-Day track iron, Trio, Circuit of Britain.

Six-Day, Trio, C.o.B.--foto courtesy of the owner

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