As others have already said, the 27" wheels were surely later replacements - although Mavic did actually make alloy rims by around that time (but not for clinchers, so far as I know ... and they'd be rather odd replacements considering that size was really only typical on imports to the US or the UK.
The good news is that you can still order some beautiful hand made wooden rims - from Italy, no less, direct from the Cerchio Gisallo website... (sorry, I lost the URL, but perhaps someone else can help here). What could be better for that classic's bikes return to L'eroica than wooden rims and classic FAT tubular tires.
Bob Hanson, Albuquerque, NM, USA
Ted Ernst wrote:
Atsa what I think. Probably wood rims and 30 / 32 mm tires. I have a few pair of OLD NOS FRESH Continental Gumwall 1x1/4 sew-ups that should be perfect for that bike. Nice fat old BAAAAD roads type Donuts. $50 each, plus shipping.
> Art Link wrote:
>
>> The bike has full aluminum fenders and dropped bars,thus a "semi- racer".
>
>
> I think your '35 Maino is a "full" racer, Art... as in pro. All racing
> bikes back then came with fenders and a Vittoria Margherita is a full on
> pro set up too. Quite possibly the 27" aluminum clinchers aren't
> original to the bike?
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, CA USA
> http://www.velo-retro.com (reprints, t-shirts & timelines)