Looking for vintage spokes
 

Does anyone have a lead on mid-1970's double-butted spokes with short nipples? I looked on eBay to no avail.
I need
36 11-1/2 inch
18 11-15/16 in
18 11-29/32 inch

What's a "vintage spoke"
Double-butted spokes and 12 mm nipples are still easily available.

Galvanized spokes are apparently still made. They're common enough on department store bikes.

Chromed spokes MIGHT be difficult to find. I've never tried.
Or do you simply want spokes old enough to match the age of your bike?

Spokes and nipples haven't changed materially since the sixties. Any quality spoke, with 10mm of thread (which has been pretty much standard since the sixties) will take short (12mm) nipples no problem. It's a good pairing since the skirt of the nipple will cover the last thread as the spoke reaches into the head. (if you see threads, the spoke is short and not engaging the head)

You'll also do better on your searches if you convert all measurements into millimeters.

This forum is for discussing use of the forums and problems as such. A cool moderator will move your thread shortly, no need to repost, and guys, you already knew that ;p


Not a mod, not even a hipster.

Thread moved to Classic & Vintage.

For a starter, here is Amazon's selection of DT Swiss, pick the other manufacturer of spokes you wish to use.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=lp_3404...nid=2528832011

The suggestion to connect the dimensions to metric was one thing you out to take seriously, it will make your search much more complete and easier. What are these spokes going on, hubs, rims, application?

Bill

Try contacting Wayne Bingham at Velo Classique....

EBay childhood_dreams

Spokes from yesterday
 

Here is a score of spokes and nipples that I picked up recently...I still need to sort thru.
I didn't see anything with the size you were looking.

https://goo.gl/photos/mRXGnmYhwFukHZUN8

Good Luck!

^ Hah! That seller has been my go to for spokes simply by coincidence at least 3 times now. Good prices at quantities that make sense and they're accommodating with custom sizes. http://stores.ebay.com/childhooddreams

Lee has served me well several times also. Very happy on all fronts. He uses Sapim.
or Yaho0 email him directly, lkspoke@...

I know a guy who has thousands of NOS Robergel spokes in lots of sizes, some of which I remember being 14/15 and 15/16ga. Consider me a last resort, though, since I'm working from old memory and it would be a 3 hour round-trip.

And now I'm curious what you're working on.

I had FBinNY build my Wolbers onto Sturmey Archer hubs and he used double butted spokes that are awesome. Great build.

WARNING Many, if not all, Robergel spokes take French thread nipples, which are different than the standard 56tpi used by just about everyone else. So if considering these, either get matching nipples, or verify the thread.

Nipples as well, I hope? IIRC Robergel used different thread than what is now standard.

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/spoke-threads.jpg
Source: Sutherland's 4th Edition

They're mostly in original boxes and I'm pretty sure they still have matching nipples. Thanks for the reminder, though.

Two years ago, I sold almost 1,000#s of Robergel spokes to the local recycler because I didn't have the right nipples.

Half a ton?

Just shy, but it doesn't sound as heavy in pounds. I'd gotten the spokes "free" as part of a bulk purchase, and was sitting on them for 30 years or so, figuring I might find nipples for them.