Last year Wheelsmith was bought by Hayes. Subsequently, the Japanese factory who had been making most of Wheelsmith's spokes closed down. Hayes' subsidiary Sun Components are now making Wheelsmith spokes in Milwaukee. We got our first shipment of Milwaukee-made Wheelsmith spokes here in New Zealand about a month ago.
DB Ak NZ
http://retroride.blogspot.com
http://www.outside-the-tent.blogspot.com/
When I noticed that the excellent website Wheelbuilder.com no longer was listing Wheelsmith spokes (I had ordered 15/17 gauge from them as recently as January), I received the following reply from Wheelbuilder.com:
"We took them off our website because we only have a limited stock and we are no longer able to order Wheelsmith spokes. Wheelsmith company was sold recently and no one is manufacturing their spokes and we hear no plans in the near future. You can email us what you need/want and we will check our inventory. Minimum order of $45. will still apply."
Sad news as Wheelsmith were really good and the only maker of 15/17 spokes I could find. This hobby gets more "challenging" every day it seems....
Peter Kohler Washington DC USA
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