1936 Hetchins Brilliant No. 2

I purchased this Hetchins curly Brilliant No. 2, Serial No. 63235, twenty years ago from the late John Malseed, who had owned the bike and ridden it for many years. I wrote to Len Ingram, the Hetchins Marque specialist at the time, who gave me the following information: "63235 was sold on 14th August 1937 to the firm of B. Peagram of Brantree in Essex, England...Your frame was sold just as a frame, they normally sold complete cycles at that time, and the trade price was five pounds ten shillings English money. The model is a Brilliant No. 2. I suspect the head badge was fitted some time after as they did not appear until 1938. The frame number is a code, 6 standing for 1936, 3 was March and 235 was the 235th frame they made starting from Aug 1935, so they had the frame in stock for a year before they sold it, not unusual at all as they held stacks at most time during the firm's long history.

I have put the entry onto the Register, it is the 8th oldest frame known to survive, is it a curly? Kindest Regards Len"

Sadly, Len Ingram is no longer with us, and no doubt my Hetchins Brilliant is no longer ranked 8th oldest in the Hetchins Register.

My Hetchins is a 20 & 1/2 inch curly frame with head clip, repainted black. It is equipped with Chater Lea chainwheel, Super Champion four speed Osgear, GB Hiduminium brakes, Harden large flange alloy hubs, "San Giorgio" Italian alloy rims with 26 X 1 & 1/4 inch tires; Bluemels "Airweight" aluminum mudguards, celluloid "Britainnia" pump, Carradice bag, and Brooks B17 saddle.