Well, new to me anyway, and I've only been riding them for 32 years! My new one that was made in 1983 that I got in 2005 came with the cheapie Stronglight copy Bardon headset which fits a 28 mm (French diameter) steerer, so no new headset will work. I couldn't get any combination of 5/32 and 3/16 bearings to work. It would be loose or bind up or both. Everyone I sold them to had the same experience. The only information we had was from The Good Shepherd himself the late Sheldon Brown, who suggested that they would work best with 5/32 up top and 3/16 down below. That didn't make sense to me but I tried it and it didn't work any better than anything else (sorry Sheldon!) So recently I was asked to repaint an old Jack Taylor tandem fork, and I asked the customer what size bearings he had. He gave me an inch decimal that didn't match either 5/32 or 3/16. It was darn close to 5 mm though. I didn't know 5 mm bearings existed, but I searched the web for them anyway, and lo and behold I found them on ebay in the UK. The listing said "used as a rattle in nail polish bottles, and in some cycles" so I thought worth a try. Voila! Success! The headset now operates normally, with no play or binding. So here is where to get them as I know you are dying to ask: _www.simplybearings.co.uk_ (http://www.simplybearings.co.uk) . I bought 200 of them and paid 22 pounds. You don't need more than about 60 - I forgot to count when putting them in - but I think they are sold by the 100. I don't remember everyone who bought one of the 1983 tandems from me in 2005 but if you know someone who has one please pass this along to them.
And by the way, if your fillet brazed Jack Taylor needs that special allen head seat bolt (also used in some eccentric clamps) that you can't find anywhere, I have those too. It is 5/16" x 22 tpi. A relatively obscure British size. I have stainless or black. $10 or $5.
cheers! Bob Freeman Elliott Bay Bicycles 2116 Western Ave Seattle, WA 98121 206-441-8144 Home of Davidson Handbuilt Bicycles **************Get the Moviefone Toolbar. Showtimes, theaters, movie news & more!(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212774565x1200812037/aol?redir=htt p://toolbar.aol.com/moviefone/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000001)