The Phil Wood hubs had chrome barrels in 1973. I bought my first pair in 1977 to build a clincher wheelset(using Torrinton spokes and Rigida 13-19 rims with Wolber 20 cotton cinchers) and by that time Phil was using brushed stainless steel barrels. I think my recently acquired 1977 Cinelli SC has Columbus tubes, I will correct this if I find out I am wrong when I get home. The fatique question I have address three times in the last 6 months. I think it is an inappropriate topic so I will be brief. Fatigue is a complicated subject or we would not have airplanes cracking and needing regular structural monitoring and repair. Basically aluminum has no endurance limit so it will eventually fail at any stress levels with enough use. Steel can be used indefinitely if the stresses are kept below its endurance limit. Proper design can make aluminum or steel quite long lived.
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