FORKS & CROWNS

Several different forks and crowns were used over the years. Both round and oval blades were used in all production periods. The most elegant crown was the double-plate cast fork crown with sockets for round fork blades, introduced in 1946 (1947 catalog). At first, this was a very simple affair, but ornamental tangs were added to compliment the Latin Series lug patterns in 1950. The double plate crown became scarce in the late 1970s, and by the 1990s it had been replaced by the Cinelli crown with oval blades. Below are representative samples.

	Typical crowns, 1938 to 1946.
	A very early crown, probably 1935-7.

1939 Anglo-Continental racing model with extra beefy oval forks for the rough French roads of that time.

Hetchins first used the double-plate crown in 1946; this became the standard thereafter. It featured round fork blades. Note the sloping edges between the plates. Variations are known with more or less space between the plates. The castings became scarce in the late 1970s.

A few double plate crowns reappeared in the late 1980s with parallel plates (possibly a different supplier had been found).

The oval-blade fork crown first appeared in the 1953 catalog, but some earlier frames had them fitted. This one has a milled top.

Another oval-blade crown on a 1984 MB Spyder.

The Cinelli crown, used from ca. 1990.

Other variations from the 1970s (above and below).

Below are representative samples of Hetchins forks and crowns from various production periods. Plain and elaborate crowns, round and oval blades, were made in all periods from 1950 onwards.
	1948 Massed Start
	1948 Earls Court
	1950 MO Ph i
	1951 Experto Crede
	1954 Magnum Bonum
	1963 Mtn. King
	The Plus
	Vade Mecum Superbe
	1965 MO Ph ii
	1967 MO Ph ii
	1976 Keyhole
	1988 Time Trial
	Scorpion Bonum
	1990 MO Ph iii
	1992 Novus Ductor
	2000 MO Millennium
	2020 MO, Reynolds 953 stainless
	Last but not least: Bates-style "Diadrant" fork.

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