Product Description
This beautiful Hetchins Keyhole Spade was built in Bob Jackson's shop in Leeds, England in 1981 or 1982 (verified by Len Ingram). It was a custom frame, built around the Keyhole lugs. It was designed to be a high end racing frame, eschewing some of the fancier features of the Magnum Opus or Spyder models like curly stays in favor of lighter weight and ride quality. It features oval chainstays for extra stiffness. Click Here for more info on the Keyhole Spade.
It's lugs have a distinct "keyhole" shaped cutout. The origins of the word Keyhole come from the 1920s-30s when blank lugs were slotted, and a hole drilled at the end of the slot, making a sort of key hole look. The "Spade" distinction refers to the extra curl on the sides of the head lugs.
This one got all the optional bells and whistles available for their custom builds, including fully chromed stays and fork. The paint and decals are original and unrestored, and drop dead gorgeous. The build includes a selection of the best parts available from all over the world. You will likely never see another original Jackson Hetchins this nice!
The original owner was Arthur Bouchard of England, who used his bonuses from work to have a new Hetchins frame built for him every couple years. Len Ingram says he never built any of the frames up, just used them as art. This frame was bought from Bouchard's estate when he passed away by an Englishman who built it up as it sits, and only rode it a very small handful of times. He built it up with exclusively NOS and period correct comonents. It was then bought by this man's friend who never rode it, and traded it to me for my Baines Flying Gate frame and cash.
Condition
Nearly unused & very close to mint show bike condition! 100% original paint and decals. From two feet away, the bike passes for NOS. The paint is highly glossy with no fading. The only blemish to note is paint flaked off on the cable guide closest to the headtube. Some of the gold etching and red fill paint isn't perfect, but overall it looks nice. Decals look amazing, with the only blemishes being a couple chips on the drive-side seatstay decal and four chips on the non-drive downtube decal. Chrome is pristine.
All components are mint with next to zero miles. The only blemishes to note are slight heel rub on the drive-side crank arm, and a light scuff on the rear derailleur's faceplate. Bar tape, chain, pads, cables/housing, and tires show almost zero use. Tires hold air great and are supple, only slightly dry on the sidewalls, and are perfectly rideable. The bike is tuned, and ready to ride if you choose to do so.
Frame
- Serial number: H13 005
- Seat tube: 55.5cm (c-c)
- Top tube: 57cm
- Headtube: 145mm
- Reynolds 531 lugged steel
- Handmade in Leeds, England in the Bob Jackson workshop
Components
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Frame: Reynolds 531
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Wheelset: Mavic 550 RD hubs, Wobler Profil 18 Magnesium rims, tubular
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Derailleurs, shifters, seatpost, headset: Campagnolo Super Record
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Crankset: Campagnolo Super Record, 53/39t, 144mm BCD, 180mm
- Brakes/levers: Suntour Superbe 1st gen, tan hoods
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Freewheel: Regina America 13-21t
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Chain: Sachs
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Tires: Vittoria Nuovo Pro 19 Team, Tubular. Holds air great!
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Saddle: San Marco Supercorsa Concor W.C.S. perforated leather, black (also available: Hetchins Selle Italia Flite, see below)
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Stem: Cinelli XA, Hetchins Pantograph
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Handlebar: Cinelli mod Campion Del Monde
- Pedals: not included
