Ah, so many different sounds, and all delight the ear.
Some which I now recall were received in new condition, yet with no lubricating grease at all (perhaps I'm thinking of Regina and Everest?) and when shaken you could hear the tiny balls rattling in their races. Others were heavily packed with thicker grease which tended to muffle any sound and even quiet but not impede the pawls. Others, such as possibly the aforementioned Atom, I recall as having had a unique ticking of it's own - which sounded quite delicate and complex.
Hah! - this has just struck me as rather funny. This might well be a discussion of wines for all the uniqueness of the individual, perhaps even regionally dictated, styles. And, there were even year related distinctions too within the various "growers" of freewheel labels. Not to say there were good or bad years in freewheel production. The differences were surely in subtle modifications to the body design.
It would be interesting to record some of the various sounds. Perhaps this could provide the basis for an interesting quiz for the obsessive connoisseur of such things...
Actually, I think this would even make for an entertaining and amusing short video: Imagine a group of serious freewheel "listeners" gathered around a table discussing and comparing the distinctive aural character of several different freewheels - like a wine tasting... but, without the requisite spitting.
And we might also consider the delightful waxy smell of some of the aged grease in the freewheels, too. I happened to notice this myself while recently handling an old Cyclo 72 5-speed freewheel.
Thanks for the delicious memories, Sean!
BOB HANSON, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, USA
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