ddashoff699

It boggles my mind why these hubs sold for half a grand.

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_500wt_1378

Sixty Fiver

They are some of the finest hubs ever made, legendary in that they can be run over 100,000 miles without a rebuild, were hand built to very precise standards, and this set has never been laced.

We can hand build you some 40 spoke tandem hubs with bearings that will easily run 30,000 miles or more without the need to be touched but they will not be vintage, and will only cost you $400.00

Because Maxi Car hubs were used by legendary constructeurs they also have a devoted following among collectors and these might just end up in a display case somewhere and never be laced.

https://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2007...-car-hubs.html

Captain Blight

You know, I actually don't see that as completely unreasonable. Steep, yes; but for what they are? Not too bad. I dare you to produce them today for that much or less and maintain the same quality.

Sixty Fiver

You would be hard pressed to produce them for less than this amount... some might say a hub that lasts this long is overkill but when you depend on your bicycle to carry you tens of thousands of miles under the most extreme conditions hubs like this can make a difference.

Captain Blight

I look at what some of the offerings from Hope and Rolf and that ilk sell for, and I look at Maxi-Car, and I know which one I'd rather spend my money on. The upstarts are not even close. Mind you, these were made on relatively unimpressive machinery by skilled hands at union wages; I'm sure that, adjusted for inflation, these are actually cheaper today than then,

Lenton58 

Somebody is sorting out a pile of N.O.S. car parts in some Milano warehouse and finds a crankshaft that is eventually recognized as a spare for the 1952 Alpha Romeo 3.5 liter Disco Volante driven by Juan Fangio in the Mille Miglia long distance road race. It would be difficult to overestimate its value. ... an unused super charger for a Rolls Royce Merlin aero engine ... how much? Years after I sold my 706 cc custom-built Triton racing motorcycle, someone offered the new owner just under ten times what I paid for the whole machine — just for the Norton Manx fuel tank. Rarity, exotica — there is almost no limit other than what someone — a rare someone — is willing to pay. They ... those rare people ... breathe a different atmosphere than you and I. As for Fangio's machine — I'll guess at least 3 million dollars. And that's probably a bargain. The 2 liter version is worth a paltry 2 million.

As soon as I saw the picture of these hubs, I knew that no figure would be a surprise. If you were building the holy grail of tandems, what would $500 be towards the total cost considering the importance of the hubs that will carry a load of thousands of pounds often under shock and stress?

After you reach the stratospheric, price is not an object. What remains is how much damed up desire lies in the heart of the prospective buyer. Hundreds of years ago, only kings, emperors and the most powerful lords could aspire to such covetousness. In this age of rich and super-rich, exotic acquisition has finally come to the velo-world. And it is not about to change soon. The age of velo, retro knock-offs and custom built replicas is about to take off — 'cuz it's going to be cheaper for "the rest of us".

RobbieTunes

For a serious loaded tourer, or a serious tandem build, the hubs are probably cheaper in the long run.
Like the guy says, figure $430 for Hope Techs, new, and definitely not as durable, (not designed to be.)

Plus, the market is comparatively small. I actually think that's a pretty good price.

I have friends with a tandem Cannondale, and they go hard and long. They'd have bought those in a flash if they'd needed 'em. They don't think $750-$800 for a wheel build is out of line for a high end tandem bike. I don't, either, but I couldn't ride it enough to justify it.


Welcome to the forum.

big chainring 

I remember my brother buying a pair of Maxi-Car hubs back in the 70's. I think he paid around $125 back then.

miamijim

What makes the bearings so special?

Captain Blight

Not so much the bearings themselves but the races are very, very precisely and smoothly ground, as are the cones, which are so hard you can dress a grinding wheel with them. What makes them special, what gave rise to the cachet in the first place, is the overall execution. The tremendously effective seals, the keyhole spoke openings so you can replace a drive-side spoke without dismounting the wheel-- all of it. Just very, very well thought out and done the very best that huuman hands could manage.

balindamood

They are the only decent bicycle component the French ever made.

Sixty Fiver

Captain Blight

"You ain't gonna learn what you don't wanna know." ~Grateful Dead


Save your breath, Keith. Besides... more for us! Hey, did you get that cog?

Sixty Fiver

I got an envelope that had the impressions of a cog and nice note... there was also a small iregular cut in the end of the envelope so I need to check with my postman to see if it worked it's way out or maybe someone at customs thought I was importing miniature throwing stars.

balindamood

Darn it! Your are onto my master plan!!

Captain Blight

Crap I knew I should have taped it to a piece of cardboard or something. It probably tore its way out. I'll see about rounding up another one and try to get it in the mail soon. Sorry, Bud.

Sixty Fiver

You are an awesome.

Picturing some customs dork running around seeing how this mini throwing star works...

Sixty Fiver

We are going to have send our team of miniature ninjas, who we have armed with 12 tooth Suntour freewheel cogs, to take you out.

ericbaker

While we're on $500 vintage hubsets...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-PRIOR-hu...item2319bd7edf

Amesja

Didn't they sink the Bismark?

rootboy 

*Weir/Barlow ( don'tcha just love nit pickers?

753proguy

Sold (establishing market price).
Listed a second pair, BIN, sold that set.
Listed a third pair (ongoing).

Looks like he had at least three sets....