Hi All, I just had some wheels built using Sapim "Laser "spokes . These are the closest to the classic 15/17 (1.4 - 1.8mm ) double butted I could find. They are double butted 1.5 - 2.0mm. I was pissed to find the word SAP stamped into the spoke just by the bend. The nipple end unbutted length is short too, only 10mm or so. 1 pair are Grunert 32 hole sprints onto L/F Campy track hubs for 1957 Gillott Fleur de Lis track iron. This bike has Campag 1"pitch chainwheel on early cranks,BBkt, h,set and steel seatpost with narrow rail Brooks saddle. Cinelli bar and stem and Weinmann 500 brake. Other pair are 26" Conloy Asps onto small flange Blumfield Duralites for a 1951 Thanet Silverlight. I have since found an old Jamaican guy called Sam The Wheels. He's in 70's. His house is crammed with wheels, spokes etc. He started building wheels at Claud Butlers in 1954. Went on to Holdsworths in the late 50's. He's built me a couple of other pairs using old style spokes. I can load the rims and hubs onto the Viscount, cycle 2 miles to Brixton , drop them off and pick up the wheels the next day. Frame repairs are done by Bill Gray who works in Colliers Wood. He is bus and Tube journey away at lunchtime. I get some funny looks carrying 2 frames on a bus. Bill is 83. He began at Clauds in 1932. He reckons to have built 2000 tandems. When Clauds went belly up in 1957 Bill worked freelance from George Strattons' shop on Easthill, Wandsworth. Why am I moving to the north of Scotland...?
Mark Stevens in sunny London.