I agree on the black finish.
Someday I hope to finish my mild hot-rodded DL-1 project. I think the black rims have a distinct style and yet I don't want a dull finish naked aluminum. The DL-1 is supposed to be the 'all steel bike' so I want to disguies the ally. For those Columbia made rims (CicloTorres), I've been considering powder coat and the other choice is to high polish. Regardless, will have to accept the wear created on the braking surface. I've been playing around with a repro steel Lauterwasser style bar, custom lever set-up for the rod brakes. Going with Koolstops, galvanized spokes.


More rim talk:
Just a guess, but descriptions of a 27" rim can be misleading. For example, the Swiss Weinmann do fit 28" (700c) tires. The old advert shows the tubular type (also known as 'sprints') and described as 27" but are for 700c tubular tires. I also have a set of 50's era aluminum Weinmann described 27" non-hook bead / high pressure (most would describe as clinchers), 6 sided, single wall only. Funny as I have a set vintage 28" (700c) wire bead tires on them, 27" tires will not fit.


Noticed the Guv'nor uses hub brakes. Small 20" frame uses the 26" rim. The other frame describes rims as 28" (of which fit for 700c). I'd like to know where to get a pair of those black 28" in the US.