Re: [CR]More on Weyless Hubs

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

From: "Tom Martin" <tom@wilsonbike.com>
To: <OROBOYZ@aol.com>, <jschaer@columbus.rr.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <1df.26c71a87.2e3f0020@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]More on Weyless Hubs
Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2004 09:35:18 -0700


Just so everyone knows, Supergo somehow bought (or retrademarked after expiration) the Weyless name. Now it is just a brand associated with generic Taiwan and China carbon this and aircraft aluminum that.

Tom Martin
Oakland Ca


----- Original Message -----
From: OROBOYZ@aol.com
To: jschaer@columbus.rr.com
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2004 7:25 PM
Subject: [CR]More on Weyless Hubs



> In a message dated 7/31/2004 9:11:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> jschaer@columbus.rr.com writes:
>
> <<
> I'm not positive, but I believe these are essentially the same as Bill
> Shook's later American Classic hubs. I think the earliest versions of these
> were turned from 6061 aluminum, which isn't very corrosion resistant, and
> then powder-coated in colors. There may have been a lot of variation in the
> powder-coating process. I've seen some that have aged very well, and some
> that had a lot of flaking of the coating at the spoke holes. These then tend
> to corrode a lot, which weakens the flanges. The durability generally seemed
> to be good, but at the time spoke tensions were generally lower, wheels were
> 32' or 36', and usually 3x. Later hub versions I think were of 2000 series,
> then 7000 series. Even though these alloys are stronger, there were more
> flanges failures (as most all of the OT boutique hubs of the 90's had).
>>
>
> Jon and all:
>
> Unlike some of you whipper snappers (ahem) I was around and actively in da
> business in those days and I am 99.78% sure that Weyless were first and forever
> highly polished raw aluminum finish. No anodizing nor powder coating.
> I am sure that Bill Shook was the initial designer too but they were not
> labeled as such. Bullseye, maybe American Classic & others may have been powder
> coated but never Weyless.
> I couldn't speak to the alloy used but a few hubs did crack at the flanges,
> separating in the space between spoke holes and outer edges.. But many lasted
> until today and were very reliable in general.
> The quick release was also very unique and distinctive, with tubular aluminum
> loops for levers. Like many sealed bearing hubs, there was a discernible play
> out at the rim in built up wheels. "Racers slack"?
>
> Pictures here:
>
> http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/Weyless.htm
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, NC