Re: [CR]Vintage spokes - whatever happened to Torrington and Robergel???

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

From: "David Feldman" <feldmans1@earthlink.net>
To: "Joe Bender-Zanoni" <joebz@optonline.net>, "Steve Neago" <questor@cinci.rr.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <000a01c2f425$3cc1db20$57b21b18@cinci.rr.com> <006901c2f46b$97411ca0$6400a8c0@compaqcomputer>
Subject: Re: [CR]Vintage spokes - whatever happened to Torrington and Robergel???
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 08:08:37 -0600


Sapim have become more widely distributed in the last couple of years. I build about 3/4 of my customers' wheels with them, especially the 14/17/14 gauge "Laser." The Laser is similar in weight and strength to DT Revolutions and has a good appearance for period wheels, butting is similarly visibile to Wheelsmith spokes. If you want a similar look to Robergels without the breakage, they're a
great choice.
DAvid Feldman
Vancouver, WA


----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Bender-Zanoni
To: Steve Neago
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 8:17 AM
Subject: Re: [CR]Vintage spokes - whatever happened to Torrington and


Robergel???


> Torrington was (is) a US company, I believe in Torrington CT. Besides spokes
> they made pedals, handlebars and seatposts. They also made automotive type
> bearings and probably remain in that business. Torrington made nice double
> butted galvanized spokes. From a materials viewpoint the move to stainless
> steel spokes is generally a mistake. Now you can't get good galvanized
> carbon steel spokes.
>
> Robergel was French. The "Trois Etoille" stainless spokes were their top
> product. They had a bad problem with breaking (see galvanized comment
> above).
>
> DT came out with better spokes and Robergel just seemed to fold. Same with
> the Italian Alpina spokes. The German Berg Union spokes continued for a
> while (do they still exist?). Rarely seen in the US are the Belgian Sapim
> which still exists.
>
> Joe Bender-Zanoni
> Great Notch, NJ
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Neago" <questor@cinci.rr.com>
> To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2003 12:53 AM
> Subject: [CR]Vintage spokes - whatever happened to Torrington and
> Robergel???
>
>
> > Hello,
> >
> > It seems that old bike manufacturing companies sometimes fade away with
> time... whatever happened to spoke manufacturers such as Torrington
> (England) and Robergel (?Germany?)
> >
> > Were either acquired by current current bike spoke manufacturers such as
> DT Swiss or Wheelsmith?
> >
> > Thanks, Steve Neago
> > Cincinnati, OH