Hey Ann ,
Those original "single-tube" tires , from circa 1890 - 1925 , and the wooden ( or steel-clad wood ) rims for those tires , use just exactly the same diameter as modern , year 2003 , "sew-up" or "tubular" tires , and the modern "tubular" rims .
However , the old-old wooden rims , for single-tube tires , were usually wider , which meant that the sides had more room to curve up at the sides . So , the old-old wooden rims have higher sides .
As someone pointed out on the C. R. List , not long ago , single-tube tires were usually NOT glued or shellacked onto their rims . So , the higher sides of the rims , and some air-pressure , were usually the only things holding them in place .
Try slipping a modern sew-up tire , onto one of the antique rims ( wipe the old dirt off the old rim first :^) . If the modern tire is at least an o.k. fit , slightly loose , or slightly tight , or won't quite go on , then those are regular old standard sized rims !
The normal common standard size , for rims and tires on adult bicycles , was called "28 inch" .
This is the same as 700 size now , for sew-ups , or for wired-on ( "clincher" ) tires .
Yes , there are also big tires and tubes for "English Roadsters" , like the Raleigh DL-1 Tourist , in the 28 x 1 1/2 inch size ! Those are not the ones I'm talking about ! :^)
622 mm does NOT equal 635 mm
It's very interesting that the particular pair your customer brought in were 32-hole 40-hole .
How wide are they ?
Wooden rims range anywhere from as wide as the rims for 26-inch "Balloon" tires , to as narrow as modern tubular rims .
I'm surprised that no one on the list has anything to say about French Fairbankes Viper rims .
I can't say that I've heard of that brand before . But the name certainly sounds good !!
And some one certainly would be willing to pay a good price for them !
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas
> Hey all you wooden rim aficionados out there...
>
> Customer came in the shop with a pair of wooden rims sans hubs and spokes
> today.
>
> 1 40 hole
> 1 32 hole
>
> Each rim had two labels, one label was in black and said "Fairbankes Made
> in France."
>
> The other label was 180 on the other side of the rim, a blue diamond
> outlined in red with the name "Viper" centered between "trade" and "mark."
>
> They were in pretty good shape and the customer asked me the value, which
I
> don't know, but I think he'd like to sell them. They look like road bike
> rims to me and are designed for a glue on sew up tire. Maybe 26"? Email
me
> if this is of interest, or maybe post here if you have info I can share
> with my customer.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Ann Phillips, Decatur GA