Fred Hellens elusive documentation - hellenic seatstays !

[bduc61]

There you go.
Its always a learning curve.
I must admit this has been a very interesting thread to follow.
Thanks for sharing this search Bruno
All the best
Jamie

for once
the english beat the french in a bicycle matter - well in the 20th century :mrgreen:

 

[bduc61]

Re:

quite a few french framemakers have used the hellenic seatstays between the 30's and the 1950's

just to illustrate it further

here is one from Lyon - probably beginning of 50's ( very little number of surviving bicycles from this framemaker ) which is remarkable with its very thin ends

looks a cousin to the Pollard below

 

[Woz]

Re:

Every GT fan should read this thread ;-)

 

[Mandy]

Re: Hellenic frame

This was a design made by 3 brothers from the Old Kent Road area of London.

The Hellens brothers, Albert, Walter and Fred designed and raced bicycles in early 1900's. Even won medals from the St Johns cycling club.

The stay design was later patented by the younger brother Fred, after Albert died. This patent, legend says, was later bought by Raleigh. This caused a rift between Fred and Walter. There are newspaper articles of the time which show the Hellens family involvement in cycling.

I have some copies from these articles but the medals are with a family member.

Hope this helps

 

[bduc61]

Re: Hellenic frame

This was a design made by 3 brothers from the Old Kent Road area of London.

The Hellens brothers, Albert, Walter and Fred designed and raced bicycles in early 1900's. Even won medals from the St Johns cycling club.

The stay design was later patented by the younger brother Fred, after Albert died. This patent, legend says, was later bought by Raleigh. This caused a rift between Fred and Walter. There are newspaper articles of the time which show the Hellens family involvement in cycling.

I have some copies from these articles but the medals are with a family member.

Hope this helps

Would be nice to be able to read the articles. Can you scan these ? :idea:

By the way, I heard that this design may even have been present on an earlier bike ( before 1900 !). Would not be that surprising as nearly everything in the bicycle industry has been invented very early and quite often did sunk in oblivion :idea:

thanks

 

[Elvis]

Re:

Fred Hellens (possibly). This looks like a 30's-40's Hellenic frame. Are there any decals?

https://flic.kr/p/2h8jb4q

https://flic.kr/p/2h8pu41

https://flic.kr/p/2h8nD9m