LATIN SERIES OVERVIEW
In the 1930s and 40s, Hetchins lug patterns, Brilliant, SuperSpecial, and Competition, were based on Chater Lea blanks and are similar to those of other frame builders (such as Bates) who used the same blanks. In 1948 a show bike was exhibited at the Earl's Court trade fair; it featured elaborately hand-cut lugs with long embellishments on the seat tube and fork blades. It was apparently designed to test the waters. Click here for E C Show frame. Less than a year later several completely new designs were presented at the 1949 Lightweight Show trade fair. The series was officially inaugurated in the 1950 catalog and expanded over the next three years. The complete series--commonly called the Latin Series, on account of their names--included the following patterns:
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Hetchin's catalog |
The Nulli, Vade Mecum, Experto, and Mag. Bonum models proved to be popular; the Cognoscenti did not and was eventually dropped from the programme. The Magnum Opus was a strong seller and has been in continuous production for more than 50 years. |
The Vade Mecum Superb |
Cognoscenti. Only 25 were built.
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The Latin Series consisted of castings. A paper template (as shown above for the VM Superbe and Cognoscenti models) was layed over the casting and the pattern traced or painted onto the surface. Then the casting was cut and filed away to match the pattern. The more elaborate patterns, such as the Magnum Opus, also acquired extensions. These were fabricated from flat stock and welded onto the lug base. Other lug patterns were based on pressed steel sleeves or flat stock (also called bilams or bilaminations). Later, some of the Latin Series lugs were also offered in pressed versions. Below: an MO Phase 2 cast lug, showing where the extension was welded onto the casting.
Below is a lug display showing designs introduced in the 1960s.
from lf.: VadeMecum MK ii, VM Superb, VM iii, Mtn. King, VM i.
from rt.: VadeMecum MK ii, VM Superb, VM iii, Mtn. King, VM i.
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