Re: [CR]question about 50's aluminum rims

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Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 16:56:44 +0000
Subject: Re: [CR]question about 50's aluminum rims
From: "Hilary Stone" <hilary.stone@blueyonder.co.uk>
To: "P.C. Kohler" <kohl57@starpower.net>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <001701c3cb6a$c524c8c0$22e0fea9@man>


Constrictor alloy rims first came out around 1927/8 - the first ones were solid aluminium extrusions but c1934 they launched new versions which had a small box section in the corners. All featured a similar crescent shape. Pre-war in addition to the Fiamme rims (there were rims for wired-on tyres in two versions and one for tubular tyres) already discussed Dunlop offered a rim called the Elektron. This was similar in shape to the ones Dunlop introduced in 1948. 27in were available in a narrow section 26 1 1/4in in two widths a narrow and wide and 26 1 3/8in in a wide. Also available from a similar time were the Alumlite rims (26 1 1/4in and 27in) which were apparently similar in cross section to pre-war German KP rims. Weinmann rims were available from c1950 26 1 1/4in w/o dimples and in two widths and 27in with and without dimples. San Giorgio offered 26 1 1/4in and 27in in two widths for a few years from around 1951. Both Fiamme and Mavic wired-on rims were offered a little erraticly in the UK at times in the 50s and 60s. Constrictor offered both their standard rim and the slightly narrower and lighter Asp. They also generally off a solid section rim mostly called the Boa and slightly flatter in section - this was really quite a heavy rim being heavier than a Dunlop HP steel rim!

Hilary Stone, Bristol, England


>> Please excuse my ignorance but were aluminum rims available in the mid
>> to late 50's? If so were they available as 27", 700c or both?

Peter Kohler wrote:
> Jay.... I can't speak for non British makers, but alloy rims were common on
> better grade British machines from the late '40s onwards and introduced
> before the war. The best known were those made by the Constrictor Tyre Co.
> Ltd. including the lovely Asp. Dunlop made alloy rims as well including the
> ones I have on my '49 Raleigh Clubman and '51 Lenton Tourist; these are 26"
> x 1 1/4". I have never seen Dunlop alloy rims in 27" x 1 1/4", their
> preference were the superb lightweight steel HP rims in this size. These
> also came in stainless.
>
> Hilary Stone can doubtless add a lot to this story. My dream machine, the
> 1938 Rudge-Whitworth "Olympic-Aero" had Conloy rims, seat post, handlebars
> and stem, all of alloy (Hiduminium). It weighed 20 lbs. And we think we're
> so clever nowadays!