Some time ago, Al Van Varick posted a for sale notice here. He wrote: "I have available to the CR List Members a NOS pair of Scheeren Standard sew-up rims in 32 drilling. These are the famous balsa wood filled rims from the early 1970?s. The Standards are not quite as light as the ultra ultra light Weltmiester rims also made by Scheeren and are therefore more useable. Pictures will be available when the weather clears in sunny SOCAL. $240 will do it."
I thought I had an identical pair in my garage, but I don't. Mine are labeled "Weinmann" with no model indication that I can find. Is this a case of two labels but one original manufacturer, or did Weinmann and Scheeren both make the wood-filled rims? Were there other sources for these very light aluminum/balsa rims? I weighed one, at ~325 gm, which is pretty light (I think the much later SuperChampion Medaille d'Or was either 260 or 290, for reference).
Does anyone know how they were made? I've sort of assumed that the balsa was cut into segments, and did little more than maintain the profile of the rim section when it was rolled into a hoop. But, that is just a guess. I am reasonably certain that balsa doesn't grow in hoops. :-)
thanks!
harvey sachs
mcLean va