In recent months I was fortunate enough to purchase one of my holy grail frames. A 1980/81 drilled brake bridge Hutch frame. This is one of the larger frames as it has the chainstay brace behind the bb shell. The most incredible part is the fact that it is NOS. The pictures do not do it any justice. The chrome is pretty much perfect. With rough edges found on the opening of the seat tube and tips of the dropouts. Anyareas that do not look perfect are simply smudges, reflection, or dust from the trip. There are no imperfections on the frame. Have a look....






The owner of Profile was kind enough to honor my request to include a hand-signed Cert of Authenticity stating that the frame is NOS and was built for 1980/81. Additionally, the owners son gave me some friendly answers to several questions I had regarding the frame. My questions and his replies are provided below:


ME: You mentioned that you personally drilled out the holes on the brake bridge. Did you do all the brake bridges for the Hutch frames? Or did you only do it for a short period of time? (I think it would be that much cooler knowing that you personally drilled the holes on this particular frame)

HIM: I am pretty sure that I drilled almost every one of those brake bridges. I would work during the summer for a few hours a day back in 80-81 when I was 12 or 13. It would take forever to drill each bracket! There was a drill press fixture and only 1 could be drilled at a time because the drill was so small.


ME: Do you have any idea if this particular frame is
one of the earlier frames (1980 or even late 1979)? Or is it was from 1981?

HIM: Most likely your frame was made in 1980... that was the first style frame Profile made for Hutch.

ME: This particular frame has no decals (that's
perfectly fine with me). Back when Profile made these frames for Hutch, were the decals applied to the frames/forks at the Profile facility? Or after they
were shipped?

HIM: No Hutch decals were applied at Profile. We sent the frames straight to Hutch after they were chromed.

ME: Any other insight you might have to narrow-down when this particular frame may have been manufactured would be awesome.

HIM: Like I said earlier, your frame was most likely made in 1980. That was the first year Profile made frames for Hutch and the "Pro" sized frame was the first style to be made for Rich Hutchins.

I had small pieces of felt under the frame for these pics. Before anyone screams at me about having it on brick pavers.....LOL

This goes beyond the "Holy Grail" description. I'm glad you own it and not me because I would build it.

Tom, that frame is sooo cool. Glad to see your got your holy grail. Got any ideas for the shadow box yet?

No, but I even have my wife thinking about it now. I just want it to look nice.

Throw an idea at me Ray...anybody...how to display it.

Plexiglas display case on top of the coffee table, just like an aquarium. Clear plexiglas mounts, just like holding a museum piece. Black base to enhance the bling and keep the eye focused on the frame.

Thats hot !!. What a piece of history.

I'd build something out of quarter sawn white oak with through tenons and dowel pins at all joints. Just like a Gustav Stickley or Frank Lloyd Wright piece that frame is art in its purest form. But that's just me.

Maybe you can convince the wife to do a whole wall in the living room with slat wall. Just tell her she can vacuum in front of the slat wall with her Dyson. LOL!

wow!

That is very cool Tom, I was admiring at Rockford!

Dan

Man, I am glad you finally got your prize! Sweet frame and a great interview. Who would have known a twelve or thirteen year old drilled out the bridges!

tom, that trio on your table was just awesome, i also would like to comment on your hutch expert with the phil hubs being about the nicest one i have ever seen as well. very nice with the touch of red ! , thanks for sharing this commentary with us !

have your wife tease out her hair - put on a super young Hutch jersey, tied in a bunch, just above her belly w/some MAX pants and blue/red vans - stand her in an enclosed glass case lined in black velvet and a disco ball, a smoke machine pumpin and laser lights that spell out HUTCH HIGH PERFORMANCE BMX just above her head (hell in her tease out hair, just be careful it doesn't ignite) .....

damn i think i just gave away Smokin'Endos newest display plan sorry B

that thing is crazy ill - it was nice to see it in person (was good seeing you as well, homie) whatever you do with her as with most your projects, will surely be tasteful - just don't ever build her

It was certainly beautiful in person. As I was admiring it, your tent partner, enviously stated, "It's just a Hutch" then we both laughed.

Again, congrats.

Personal Holy Grails are AWESOME! and often admirable.

Tom ,

As already stated it is a sight to see in person. to bad they didn't have a best frame category as I am sure it would have won. Thanks for taking care of me and showing me around as a new guy at Rockford. I will be back. I am going to post my new guy perspective shortly.

Sorry I didn't say good bye I had to leave in a hurry and drive all the way back to Michigan for my job, it was a emergency that I couldn't get out of. It's my own fault for not planning ahead of time and trying to go to Rockford on a whim.

quote:

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Throw an idea at me Ray...anybody...how to display it.

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drill a hole through the headtube and the seattube and screw it directly to the wall ala tgifriday's!



totally sweet frame. it does have one imperfection though. most, if not all, usa made hutch frames have a small notch in the left side of the front of the gusset behind the bottom bracket. it looks like yours does also. every usa made pro racer and trickstar i have ever owned had that.