Spoke head markings may not be exclusive to one manufacturer:
ACI/Alpina both use the "S". On my examples the Alpinas have a closed and raised "S" on domed heads. Alpinas have a more open stamped (?) "S" on flat heads.
A single manufacturer may have used more than one type of marking:
Sapim uses the "S" and "I" on heads. The latter probably stems from their "Indian" brand, but can be found on "Leaders" too.
Glad to add to the confusion.
Tobit Linke, Dortmund, Germany
> Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:40:53 -0700
> From: mrrabbit@mrrabbit.net
> To: tobitlinke@hotmail.com
> CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org; kenfreeman096@gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [CR] Spokes with S Classicrendezvous Digest, Vol 97, Issue 39
>
> From the link I provided earlier:
>
> [Quote]
>
> The wheels were originally purchased from Whiskers in the mid 90's so they
> could
> well be ACI spokes. I've also called Whiskers who said ACI was a good bet.
> I've tried DT Swiss Competition double butted spokes and they're too tight
> around the flange, from what I've read ACI are a better fit on Compagnolo hubs.
>
> The odd thing is that I contacted both Sapim and Alpina Raggi direct and both
> companies said the example I sent them was not one of their products.
>
> Sapim: "No idea. I don\u2019t think that it is a Sapim spoke. We normally don\u2019t make
> ID\u2019s in the head."
>
> Alpina: "I\u2019m sorry but this is not our production."
>
> [End Quote]
>
>
> Another snippet from same link - also reiterated by a member here:
>
>
> [Quote]
>
> The Sapims have SAP stamped along the spoke near the shoulder and nothing on
> the
> head.
>
> All the ACIs do have an A on the head as I said before.
>
> [End Quote]
>
>
> So in summary it seems:
>
> A = Alpina
> S = ACI (tight looped "S")
> SAP = Sapim (located on elbow - not on head)
>
> Note that the "S" for these ACI spokes consist of tight loops. There's another
> "S" brand stamp floating around out there - seen often on 12g spokes that uses
> a
> normal "S" with relaxed loops. So eventually, the list as times goes by is
> gonna get confusing...
>
> As a reminder for John Hurley in case he gets around to updating his list:
>
> "N" = Chun Nuan (CN)
> "n" inside "C" = Chun Nuan (CN)
> "m" with vertical tail on first leg = Chun Nuan (CN)
>
>
> Hopefully my last post for the day...ban me Dale! I'm in a good mood!
>
> =8-)
>
> Robert Shackelford
> San Jose, CA USA