KEYHOLE,
KEYHOLE SPADE,
TRACK SUPREME
The Track Supreme was introduced in the 1962 catalog; it featured 73-degree parallel angles, 11-inch bb height, and reinforced rear dropouts (the right rear droput takes most of the stress on a track bike). Examples are shown below of the basic, unmodified, lug as fitted to the Track Supreme.
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Two similar lug sets were developed in the 1960s: the Keyhole and Keyhole Spade designs. Both were fitted to racing bikes and touring bikes. They were modified versions of fairly simple, box-standard long-point Italian-made lug blanks available at the time. Below: Keyhole examples.
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The above frame is typical of Keyholes: fairly simple lugwork, short chainstays and wheelbase, hard and stiff to ride. The seat lug looks the same as that on many Italia models; the head lugs and the geometry differentiate the two models. The Italia was a touring bike with longer wheelbase and more comfortable ride, whereas Keyholes were often full-race machines. Keyholes typically have oval chainstays (stiffer), whereas Italias typically have the round 'pencil' stays (more comfortable). Also, the head lugs on the Keyholes were different, having drill holes and often extra points on the head tube.
Below are photos of typical Keyhole Spades from 1981-2. Note the extra swirl at the sides of the lugs. The drill holes were sometimes connected by slots. The bb shells also often had longer points than on the Keyhole model.
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Above left, 1976 Keyhole.
Above right, 1981 Keyhole-Spade; note extra curl on head lugs.
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Above: some Keyholes featured slots connecting the drill holes.
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Above: mid-1980s Keyhole.
As with all Hetchins models, there were many variations of detail.
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Mountain King
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Keyhole-Spade
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Above: Keyhole bb shell.
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Below: a rare curly track bike, in full chrome. Keyhole lugs.
