Re: [CR]Blumfield Hubs

(Example: Framebuilders:Brian Baylis)

Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 16:38:53 +0000
Subject: Re: [CR]Blumfield Hubs
From: "Bob Reid" <bob.reid@btconnect.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <20010316155900.20745.cpmta@c001.zsm.cp.net>


Jim.

I'd have to support Bruce in his assertion that you have an excellent hub there. I'm not sure though that Duralites were solely LF hubs as what I have is clearly marked 'Duralite' and are SF ! perhaps Hilary can add some to this. - My own front hub can be seen on http://freespace.virgin.net/bob.reid1/page7.htm - and this description from it is 'MHO'
> Produced by T.F.Blumfield limited, these 1950's Duralite lightweight hubs
> weigh in at 178g. To put this in context, modern Campagnolo Record hubs weigh
> 181g ! Though clearly modern materials like titanium produce what is probably
> a more bullet-proof hub, these are never the less, an excellent example what
> could be achieved then. To save weight, the axle is both profiled along its
> length, and drilled out for a distance of 7/8" from the end, giving it the
> look of a modern quick-release hub.

What I failed to note was that these hubs use circular felt pads to provide additional lubricant to the bearings and a seal between the hub shell and cones. When I stripped these hubs, they had lain out of use for near on twenty years and were at that time 49 years old ! despite this, other than the solidified oil/grease mixture, the axle, cones and bearings all looked as if they had been installed that day. They certainly give the impression when compared with other British Hubs of their time as being 'top-notch' and a quality of finish more usually associated with precision engineers. No plain axle and single adjustable cone here.

Bob Reid Stonehaven Scotland


> From: brucerobbins@worldmailer.com
> Date: 16 Mar 2001 07:59:00 -0800
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]Blumfield Hubs
>
> Hi Jim,
>
> You've got a cracker of a hub there! It sounds like a Blumfield Duralite which
> was made, I think, in the 1940s and 1950s.
>
> The flange should be three inches in diameter if it's a Duralite. The nipple
> is the Tecalemit type.
>
> The Duralite is similar in appearance to Harden Lightweights although the
> flange is 1/4 inch less in diameter. Bob Reid, if I remember correctly, has
> Duralite hubs on his Flying Scot (please chime in with your Flying Scot
> website URL, Bob) but I don't think they're large flange models.
>
> Duralites were about the same price as Airlite Continentals-without the
> peeling chrome problem! By comparison, Chater Lea large flange lightweights,
> amongst the dearest in their day, were only about 20% more expensive.
> Personally, I prefer the Duralite.
>
> Blumfield were a Birmingham company famous for the quality of their alloys and
> stainless steel. They also made photographic enlargers and they were every bit
> as high in quality as the bike hubs.
>
> If you can find another Duralite to make a pair, you'll have a great pair of
> wheels! With a bit of elbow grease, the alloy hub should polish up beautifully
> and look a treat. There was certainly nothing produced at the time that was
> appreciably better than a Duralite and even now you'd be hard-pushed to better
> it.
>
> Regards,
> Bruce.
>
>
>
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