Sam, All: Black spokes were used back into the 1890's. Some Italian bikes I remember when I was a kid had them in the '30's already as far as my personal memory goes. I also saw some old English and German bikes in my dad's shop that were old in the '40's so were probably from '20's or '30's. Can't remember any specific brands, though. Knew all the Chicago Cub's players, though. Black spokes were used all through the decades, but not common on most bikes, added as an esthetic thing by guys mostly. Originally it most likely was cost and finish durability factor. Ted Ernst Palos Verdes Estates, CA
"classicrendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Cc: "Jan Heine" <jtheine@earthlink.net> Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 5:35 AM Subject: Re: [CR]Stainless steel spokes in Pre-war period
>I have a Dayton Catalog from late 30s or late40s no
> date on it. The Continenal Snipe.(the highest quality
> road/club bike in the catalog) takes BLACK DB
> spokes,the Flamingo(second hightest) thakes Chrome
> Plated DB spokes.Point being ,Black spokes were also
> used--anyone know what years are correct for these?
> sam lingo,pleasanton tx
>
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