thanks very much for the update rhm.
sounds like things have moved forward.
in case you do build wheels, at some point down the road, it would be an opportunity to work in one additional ch part in the person of drahtwerke trefileries. there are labels for this manufacturer which one could add to rims or frame.
most excellent ingenuity on the c/w bolts. look forward to report of results.
true pillar size sounds spot on; AND you even have a tullio of the correct dimension to hand!