Originally Posted by
T-Mar
DT = Drahtwerke Trefileries
If you want to make Sugiyama's eyes light up, ask him to tie and solder the spokes. Many cyclists, especially the competitive ones, used to wrap copper wire around the spokes at the points where they crossed, then soldered the wire. Many believe that this makes a stronger, more rigid and reponsive wheel. Many of the boom era Peugeot PX-10 came this way and some track cyclists still follow the practice.
Yes, this is the sign of a special wheel. Lacing a wheel is tedious and laborious to start with, but winding and soldering 32 pairs of spokes for two wheels makes it worse.
Even though Jobst Brandt proved this doesn't make a difference in terms of wheel stiffness, if a spoke happens to break it won't go flying off and wreak havoc with your paintjob or the rest of the wheel, but stay somewhat in place due to being tied and soldered.