Would've been fun to hear his thesis and pitch for that wheel. The rain gutter formed and thin gauge rim is one thing but those small flange hubs having each hole chamfered both sides and taking the load of two spokes. Plus the sum of 40 spoke greatly negates aero advantage. Quirky cool given the era but everything about this design obviously wasn't the trend setter.

Ironic and seems all wrong but today I have a modern US made White Industries Mi5 hubs (large diam flanged) that are 40 hole, though laced only 20 spoke, 2 cross, tied and soldered to all carbon plastic deep rims for tubular. Fast, super reliable strong and freakishly lightweight.