Firstly, I am delighted that Michael Toohey is joining us here... he was a frequent and valued contributor to my old Yahoo Group on British bicycles, Roll Britannia.
Secondly, he makes a good point that clinchers indeed have a place in classic lightweights, especially touring machines and club bikes. I can't speak for French touring practices, but even the most cursory glance at catalogues from the 1940-60s reveals that THE rim for the vast majority of British-made lightweights was that immortal classic: the Dunlop HP (for High Pressure) 27 x 1 1/4" or 26 x 1 1/4" rim in steel or stainless or alloy. When ridden with the old Dunlop HP racing tyres, a most satisfactory combination today.
Now the old Dunlop tyres are sadly no more but I am waiting earnestly for a long forgotten consignment being unearthed in the Hebrides or something. Until it is, the best substitute I've found are the cheap IRC Triathalon 27 x 1" clinchers Nashbar sells for $9.95. A superb riding tyre that likes the no bead rims if you keep the pressure to 100 psi tops. Traditional colour, too.
So I think it's fair to say that the British club scene was certainly clincher dominated, but time trailing lads would use sprints I would imagine if they could afford them. Sprints are much cheaper now in real money and far more reliable than they were then, yet another reason to use tubs.
Oh one thing more about the Tufos S-22s... they are modern but look not only traditional but old. That muddy brown colour sidewall looks like they've been on my PX-10 since 1976. I just wish Tufo make a top-end tub in traditional colours a la the Clement Criteriums or Veloflex Criteriums.
Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA