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Drillium - From racing craze to bicycle artwork (Part 2)

Posted: Sunday 16th August 2020

Author: Peter Underwood

Until we started the pages on Drillium I never realised so many collectors had beautifully restored time-trial machines from the 1970s complete with drilled components, some proprietary others home-drilled.

Starting this second page we have an interesting c.1976 Hetchins Criterium Keyhole submitted by its owner, Flash, the editor/webmaster of the Hetchins website.

 

The lugs on this Southend built 'Keyhole' are 'plain spearpont drilled out as shown above. The Campagnolo down tube levers are also milled out by Flash for that racy look. Drilled brake levers are Super Record.
The lugs on this Southend built 'Keyhole' are 'plain spearpont drilled out as shown above. The Campagnolo down tube levers are also milled out by Flash for that racy look. Drilled brake levers are Super Record.
Another view showing the front of the head lugs plus a good view of the milled-out lever.
Another view showing the front of the head lugs plus a good view of the milled-out lever.
Campagnolo chainset with drilled outer ring and milled-out (by Flash) front of the clamp-on derailleur.
Campagnolo chainset with drilled outer ring and milled-out (by Flash) front of the clamp-on derailleur.
Nuovo Record rear changer milled out by Flash.
Nuovo Record rear changer milled out by Flash.
The 17T top-left with a single line of drilling whereas the 21T TDC sprocket has ample room for double drilling. The above are owned by Alex Von Tutschek who tells us that Ray Booty drilled the sprocket on his sub-four-hour 100-mile time trial machine and then had it annealed and re-hardened at his place of work.
The 17T top-left with a single line of drilling whereas the 21T TDC sprocket has ample room for double drilling. The above are owned by Alex Von Tutschek who tells us that Ray Booty drilled the sprocket on his sub-four-hour 100-mile time trial machine and then had it annealed and re-hardened at his place of work.
Campagnolo stirrup with milling done by Campagnolo - originally from a c.1978 Olmo
Campagnolo stirrup with milling done by Campagnolo - originally from a c.1978 Olmo
Brake lever with work done by unknown driller
Brake lever with work done by unknown driller
Chainring lightening includes drilling on every tooth plus milling and drilling
Chainring lightening includes drilling on every tooth plus milling and drilling
SR produced the 'drilling' on the ferrule - stem is milled for lightness
SR produced the 'drilling' on the ferrule - stem is milled for lightness
The complete machine - a time trial classic of its era
The complete machine - a time trial classic of its era
A piece of 'drillium' never seen once fitted - Campagnolo head race Below are three rare Colnago pantographed components all 1973 era from John Murray, Queensland, Australia
A piece of 'drillium' never seen once fitted - Campagnolo head race Below are three rare Colnago pantographed components all 1973 era from John Murray, Queensland, Australia
Campagnolo brake levers (1973), drilled plus Colnago logo and World Championship pantograph
Campagnolo brake levers (1973), drilled plus Colnago logo and World Championship pantograph
Genuine Cinelli stem (1973) with Colnago logo, Colnago script plus World Championship colours Similar Cinelli stems are often pantographed to increase their value
Genuine Cinelli stem (1973) with Colnago logo, Colnago script plus World Championship colours Similar Cinelli stems are often pantographed to increase their value
Campagnolo twin-bolt seat pin with pantographed logo and milling in World Championship colours complete the set on John's Colnago
Campagnolo twin-bolt seat pin with pantographed logo and milling in World Championship colours complete the set on John's Colnago
Two images of 1980s ITM stem and Superleggero bars with 'third generation' pantograph as supplied by Colnago
Two images of 1980s ITM stem and Superleggero bars with 'third generation' pantograph as supplied by Colnago

Even the humble sprocket wasn’t safe from drill mania as the image above shows:

Four images shown above of drilling/lightening features on Peter Kohler’s Ellis Briggs ‘Favori’ time trial machine

Thanks for reading

Posted: Sunday 16th August 2020

Author: Peter Underwood

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