> Please excuse my ignorance but were aluminum rims available in the mid
> to late 50's? If so were they available as 27", 700c or both?
Jay.... I can't speak for non British makers, but alloy rims were common on better grade British machines from the late '40s onwards and introduced before the war. The best known were those made by the Constrictor Tyre Co. Ltd. including the lovely Asp. Dunlop made alloy rims as well including the ones I have on my '49 Raleigh Clubman and '51 Lenton Tourist; these are 26" x 1 1/4". I have never seen Dunlop alloy rims in 27" x 1 1/4", their preference were the superb lightweight steel HP rims in this size. These also came in stainless.
Hilary Stone can doubtless add a lot to this story. My dream machine, the 1938 Rudge-Whitworth "Olympic-Aero" had Conloy rims, seat post, handlebars and stem, all of alloy (Hiduminium). It weighed 20 lbs. And we think we're so clever nowadays!
Peter Kohler
Washington, DC USA