MAGNUM BOGUS 8

Editor's comments:
The above frame was referred to the Editor by its current owner who reasonably suspected it was not genuine. Despite the genuine Hetchins head badge, the preponderance of evidence indicates that the frame is not of Hetchin's manufacture. The lug pattern is unknown for a Hetchins, the chain stays are dented both inside and chainside, which is unknown for a Hetchins, and finally, the frame number is not a valid Hetchins serial number. It would appear that whoever resprayed it mistakenly fixed a Hetchins head badge to a non-Hetchins frame. Possibly an honest mistake.

The frame below is no honest mistake.

Editor's comments:
The above frame was spotted on ebay and is one of the worst forgeries which has yet come to light. Leave aside the crappy paint job...that means nothing. Just look at the lug details: the lug pattern is ostensibly MO ii, at least on the head tube and seat cluster. But two things stand out like sore thumbs: the bb shell is all wrong for a Mag.Opus ii (too plain), and the ornament on the front of the head tube is hideous, mal-proportioned, and chopped to bits. Such a mess would never have been made by Jack Denny, much less have left the shop. The serial number (obscured by rust but barely legible) is 4749--not a valid number, and not in the right place (should have been on the dropout, not under the bb). (I won't bother to comment on the fork.)
In sum, the above frame is a wretched mess, cobbled together from bits.

Below: another non-Hetchins.

Editor's comments:
The above frame was spotted on ebay and the seller admitted that he was somewhat doubtful of its pedigree. While a few Hetchins are known with Nervex lugs, they are very few in number. The following details strongly indicate that this is not of Hetchins manufacture: the curl on the stays is wrong--too near the dropout and not gracefully done. The serial number is wrong--836554--not a valid number for any year of production, and not in the right place. The brazing appears to be not bad; this may have been a frame builder fooling around. At least the resprayer had the decency not to put Hetchins transfers or badge on it.

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