John Betmanis writes: Here is a pair of unknown hubs I bought off eBay a couple of years ago, described as "vintage".
I got them for a 1951 Claud Butler I'm building and the widths are pretty close to what the frame is. If the rear hub is a poor design, should I substitute a more conventional modern one? This is a budget project, so I'm not striving for exact originality, just something that looks close. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ My short answer is I don't actually know. IF: -- you're reasonably lightweight -- old enough not to be sprinting lots -- restricting yourself to a 3 or maybe 4-speed FW and minimizing dish -- tolerant of popping spokes occasionally -- build your own wheels -- have spokes that will seat properly in the flanges THEN: -- why not? -- (but carry a couple of spares with you on the bike. hidden in the handlebar is ok).
your mileage may vary, but I've done a century on wood rims w. fixed gear. Once. was too hilly. But life needs a little bit of well-controlled risk-taking, too, eh?
harvey "older but no wiser" sachs
mcLean va.