Tom,
Robergel Trois Etoiles "rigoreusement inoxydables" spokes were advertised as early as February 1939 in that month's Le Cycliste. They were described as "new" then.
The whole-page ad proclaims: "Guaranteed for 10 years, and even longer, they will not rust." They even say they'll give you a free spokes, which you can put in your garden, dump in the ocean, file it to remove any surface finish, and see for yourself!
Certainly, by 1968, stainless spokes were available. Stella is another brand that comes to mind.
Jan Heine Editor/Publisher Vintage Bicycle Quarterly c/o Il Vecchio Bicycles 140 Lakeside Ave, Ste. C Seattle WA 98122 http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com
At 5:42 PM -0400 5/29/06, Tom Sanders wrote:
>I just got a lovely set of 27" wheels (from a very nice CR Lister) that have
>stainless spokes. They are dated '68. Were stainless spokes used that
>early?
>Tom Sanders
>Lansing, Mi