One can roughly determine the period of production by noting what transfers were mounted, assuming they are original. If the frame was renovated, it may bear newer transfers. Hetchins production falls into the following periods:
Pre-War Tottenham, from 1934
Post-War Tottenham, until Feb. 1974
Southend-On-Sea, 1974 to April 1986
Modern Period:
Bob Jackson (Leeds), 1986 to 1993
David Miller, 1993 to present
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Tottenham laurel crest: [top], bears the words 'Tottenham, London N15', and features a laurel wreath around the sides. It was often fitted to the seat tube, and a metal badge was usually fitted to the head tube. The center shield consists of four white fields. The upper left one usually has a dagger, but some are known without a dagger. The reason for the difference is not known.
Southend laurel crest & Olympic color bar crest: during 1974 the shop was forced to move due to a planned street widening project in Tottenham. The operation moved to Southend-On-Sea and two different crest transfers were designed. The laurel wreath design was changed to read 'Southend, England' instead of 'Tottenham, London' [above bottom]. Another crest was designed with Olympic Champion color bars [above middle]. The word 'specialists' replaced 'Tottenham' in the center, and 'England' replaced 'London N15'. These, as well as remaining stocks of Tottenham laurel wreath transfers, were fitted to seat tubes; laurel-wreath crests were also often fitted to head tubes in the 1970s when bronze badges became scarce.
The color bar crest is often seen on frames made after the operation moved to Bob Jackson Cycles. However, the color bar crest is also known from the 1950s as the centerpiece of the Coronation seat tube transfer.
All of these crests are still available and any style may be found on new production or renovated frames.
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