This Brilliant was sold in April 1939. It was acquired in 2024 from the first owner's family in very nearly as-sold condition, with much original kit on it, original chrome, transfers, and paint on the bb shell and fork blades. The second owner relates the following:
David Scott got the Brilliant for his 18th birthday and toured hostels in Scotland. The following was sent by Gill, his daughter:
I've trawled through the family photos but nothing with the bike. The history as I remember is that my grandad was a merchant sailor living in Leith. Dad [the bike's first owner] was born in 1921 while his dad was at sea. He was born at his granny's house in Easter road. Might be why he was a committed Hibernation fan! Grandad left the navy shortly after his birth, came back to Leith and got a job as caretaker of Trinity House, the headquarters for the Port of Leith. Granny was appointed as cook/house keeper. His younger brother was born there and named George Trinity Scott. Dad left Leith Academy at 14 and went to the shipyards to train as a joiner. Once the war started he joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary as a ship's carpenter. Think this was to avoid being send somewhere for active service as he spent most of the war years in Scapa Flow. While he was away his father took ill and died and he was unable to get home for the funeral. My granny then had to move out of Trinity house and moved into a house in Elm Row in Leith. I can only assume that much of dad's stuff was cleared out but the Hetchins which was his pride and joy went with her. I know he travelled Scotland with it but sadly no photos. I have attached a photo of him around the time he would have bought the bike when he won the Leith and district swimming championship. He was a fantastic sportsman maybe why he encouraged me into sport and I ended up training to be a PE teacher. He continued to cycle and encouraged my mum to join him on the tandem which is the other photo. So sad there's nothing of him on or around the [Hetchins] but just a little more history for its story. From what I've seen he tended to be the photographer which is why he doesn't appear to be in many photos.
Editor's note: chrome is porous and rusts from underneath. This frame is in amazingly good condition for its age and was evidently stored dry. The chrome has been stripped off the lugwork, where it was peeling badly, but the main tubes are mostly well-preserved.
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