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Bicycle companies faced a historical deletion around the time World War II hit, as the prevalence of automobiles and weight of war became overwhelming for manufacturers and racers alike. It was through this same period of hardship that North London’s Hetchins emerged and endured, distinguished by interesting frame designs, a diverse model range and meticulous lug work born from the partnership of Hyman Hetchin and master frame builder Jack Denny.
Here is a chronological timeline of key company and product events at Hetchins, spanning from 1934 to 1996, based on the sources used for an accompanying Ebykr article on its history, “Hetchins Bicycles: Meticulously Lugged.”
1934
Shop Relocation
Hyman Hetchin moved the location of his shop and opened for business selling cycles exclusively.
1935
Patent and Production Launch
The patent cleared for the Vibrant Triangle and production began on frames featuring this design, hitting the market with three models: the Brilliant No.1, Brilliant No. 2 and Superbe.
1936
Racing Victories
Hetchins bicycles carried podium racers at both the 1936 World’s and the 1936 Olympic Championships, and Tony Merkens rode a Hetchins to victory at the UK’s Herne Hill that year.
1937
Business Shift and Racing
By 1937, the cycling facet of Hyman Hetchin’s business had taken over fully and he decided to drop the music side of his parallel ventures. In that same year, Merkens rode a Hetchins in the Wembly Six-Day race and though he did not win, he performed well and gave Hetchins bicycles a well-deserved spotlight.
1938
Racing Exposure
The following year after Merkens’ Wembly Six-Day showing, nine riders rode Hetchins bicycles in the same race, providing even more exposure and profit for the still-fledgling business.
1945
Export Business Begins
According to Hetchins.org, the practice of exporting hand-made framesets, particularly to the United States, began in 1945 but did not become very popular until much later. Earliest on, it was typical to export fifty to sixty framesets each year.
1950s
Design Development
By the 1950’s, Jack Denny had designed and named several different types of tangs and most Hetchins models featured them. Around that same time, Reynolds began fabricating fluted and reinforced seat tubes specifically for Hetchins models, used on the model 12 (also called the Six Day Model).
1961
Leadership Transition
Hyman Hetchin died and his son Alf, a constant presence in the Hetchins factory throughout much of its existence, took over the helm, while Jack Denny stayed on as chief designer.
1970
Model Simplification
Designs became a bit simpler over time, as was the case with the Keyhole model, such as the 1970 model example cited by the article.
1970s
New Models
New models continued to hit the market, such as the Gothic, Mountain King, Bonum Super and, on the more current end of the 1970s spectrum, the Swallow and its slightly fancier sistren, the Spyder.
1980s
Custom Manufacturing Shift
In the 1980s up until the present day, all Hetchins bicycles and framesets were custom-made to the customer’s specifications and desires.
1991
Death
Jack Denny died, taking a piece of the Hetchins legacy and character with him.
1996
Death
Alf Hetchin died, ending the family-based lineage associated with the company.
Join the Hetchins Heritage Discussion!
Do you own a Hetchins, or have a favorite lug pattern or model like the Magnum Opus or the Swallow, share your story and photos in the Ebykr forums.
http://www.ebykr.com/hetchins-bicycles-meticulously-lugged/
http://www.hetchins.org
http://www.hetchins.org/history1.htm
https://bellsbicycles.co.uk/blogs/news/the-restoration-of-the-hetchins-tandem
http://www.hetchins.org/lugs.htm
http://www.hetchins.org/501mo-01.htm
http://www.hetchins.org/history.htm
http://www.hetchins.org/kenjanes-01.htm
https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/readers_bikes/hetchins-swallow-1970/
http://www.hetchins.com/
http://www.hetchins.org/501sb-01.htm
http://www.hetchins.org/501brill-01.htm
http://www.hetchins.org/504anglo1.htm
http://www.hetchins.org/504tan1.htm
http://hetchins.org/
http://www.hetchins.org/bogus-01.htm
http://www.bikecult.com/works/archive/10bicycles/hetchinsGLV2.html
http://hetchins.com/
http://www.v-cc.org.uk/
