David
Uncertain if you want to know if Phil hubs were around in the 70s, or if youre looking for a pair. History of Phil the first hubs were introduced in 1971, I think, and remained largely unchanged until the mid 80s. Aluminum flanges, steel hub body with red script Phil, all threaded for freewheels at the time, obviously. The steel hub bodies came from the factory in a nice satiny silver/grey color, but a couple of pairs have shown up recently which were highly polished pretty cool, actually. Axles were available in both quick release and bolt-on versions, with the latter using ½ allen bolts with, IIRC, integral washers, much like track hub locknuts. Replaceable cartridge bearings I think they may have been the first hubs using these bearings, though Im not certain of that. Axles were interchangeable so you could respace the rear for a newer bike and just redish the wheel, insteal of buying all new. They were and are bombproof, just like the bottom brackets. My dad has a bb from 78 or so that must have well over 80K on it, the last 15 years or so on a foul weather training bike. Dads an animal at 65, 4K miles is a light year for him. I relaced a pair of 40/48s in the mid 80s that had so many miles on them that the sidewalls of the Super Champion 58 rims were worn through bearings were still smooth as glass. A relatively well-known expedition touring cyclist, I think we gave that guy a new pair of rims for free
Prototype aluminum hubs showed up in the shop I worked in some time around early 85, and I think they were production items by 86 not on topic here.
If you were looking for a pair, rather than a history, please contact me off list Ive got a pair of used but excellent ones that Im cleaning up and readying for sale.
Cheers,
Derek Vandeberg
Bigfork, Montana