Ok guys: The name I remember is "Hubshiners".
They've been used on bikes since before 1900.
Any old thing will do.
I 've often seen old hubs that have had the road grit wear so much as to go
through the nickel or through the chrome to nickel and copper to bare steel.
We're takling of of a gazillion revs with sanding down action
Most of the ones were put on by people with stock bikes, and were sold all
over where bike parts were stocked. Most popular were leather with
reflectors which tinged when the shiners(s) touched spokes. Green front, red
back.
Later they were cheap plastic.
many folks just made their own, ie. pipe cleaners, clothesline, cloth with
weight, leather, you name it.
The oiler impeded turning but the shiner bounced around and did the job
anyway.
A few racers did it into the '40's maybe but I never saw it after the late
'40's on any of the racing guys, and only the fewest touring / sport
riders.
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA
> After seeing the chrome plating wear off the hubs I quit using them on my
> "Off Topic" bike. (that was the only kind around then)
> Mine were a leather strap with a flat lead pice folded over to hold the
> ends
> together and weight.
> Happy Trails
> Charlie Petry Jennersville PA and TX for a couple days