Originally Posted by
Trakhak
Sure it was Shimano? In the early '80's, Harlan Meyer/Hi-E experimented with the use of double-ended aluminum spokes that had an S-bend where they passed through the hub. Each spoke threaded into nipples placed 180 degrees apart in the rim.
Nope, S-bend was into rim sidewalls. Quick search brought up a pic from past sale, says wheels from 2002, zoom into rim to see better:
The rim looks stronger to me, but the tight space at the hub for the nipples means fewer spokes which I don't like.