Re: [CR] Phil Wood hubs

(Example: Production Builders:LeJeune)

From: "Derek Vandeberg" <derek@frameref.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 17:31:20 -0700
Thread-Index: Acp5MBff9KL4rb5LQDWAC9/5w8qUdg==
Subject: Re: [CR] Phil Wood hubs


David –

Uncertain if you want to know if Phil hubs were around in the ‘70s, or if you’re looking for a pair. History of Phil – the first hubs were introduced in 1971, I think, and remained largely unchanged until the mid ‘80s. Aluminum flanges, steel hub body with red script “Phil”, all threaded for freewheels at the time, obviously. The steel hub bodies came from the factory in a nice satiny silver/grey color, but a couple of pairs have shown up recently which were highly polished – pretty cool, actually. Axles were available in both quick release and bolt-on versions, with the latter using ½” allen bolts with, IIRC, integral washers, much like track hub locknuts. Replaceable cartridge bearings – I think they may have been the first hubs using these bearings, though I’m not certain of that. Axles were interchangeable so you could respace the rear for a newer bike and just redish the wheel, insteal of buying all new. They were and are bombproof, just like the bottom brackets. My dad has a bb from ’78 or so that must have well over 80K on it, the last 15 years or so on a foul weather training bike. Dad’s an animal – at 65, 4K miles is a light year for him. I relaced a pair of 40/48s in the mid ‘80s that had so many miles on them that the sidewalls of the Super Champion 58 rims were worn through – bearings were still smooth as glass. A relatively well-known expedition touring cyclist, I think we gave that guy a new pair of rims for free…

Prototype aluminum hubs showed up in the shop I worked in some time around early ’85, and I think they were production items by ’86 – not on topic here.

If you were looking for a pair, rather than a history, please contact me off list – I’ve got a pair of used but excellent ones that I’m cleaning up and readying for sale.

Cheers,

Derek Vandeberg

Bigfork, Montana