Help identifying English front hub
 

Hi the I have recently acquired a set of 700 sprint wheels with wooden rims
they seen in ok condition and am planning on trying them out on my 1939 Evans this summer
the front hub is only identified by a made in England stamping no other obvious markings
Here’s a few pictures to help with the head scratching.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2a0a92e84.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e11cff4e7.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1232e7b89.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...767e20ad3.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...946519062.jpeg

hope this helps if you need any dimensions etc let me know
all the best from a snowy Aberdeen

Airlite small flange?

Not Airlite. Different flanges, no BH marking. Not BSA because they put the three crossed rifles on nearly every single part. I've noticed Bayliss Wiley, Brampton, and Chater Lea all to have a few bits which only have "Made in England" stamped. My spidey sense is telling me these may be Constrictor hubs. What rims are they? Good luck!
Phil

Very odd to see radial spoking on a wooden rim. I wonder if the hub is the same vintage as the rim, or if it is later ?

Are we sure it's safe to spoke it radially? Wooden rims already pose risks that most of us are unfamiliar with.

ID for hub
 

It’s an odd set up not seen radial lacing on a wood rim in person myself
iv had a few more modern radial wheels in the early 90’s pace RC200 with a greasable front hub
and a set of nukeproof atoms
Radial was used on 30’s race and road bikes not seen a pic of wooden rim yet I’ll give it a go it’s just to try something different currently set up with 700c chaterlea front and SA FM rear hubs
thanks for the input so far folks

The difference in spoke angle between a fully-crossed lacing and radial, *at the rim*, is small enough that it should not have an effect on safety.
I suspect that it would be hidden by other variations inherent in the manufacture and assembly.

I do believe that hub has been cross laced before becoming radial. See the inside from prior spoke indentations.

Frank Bowden (of Raleigh) was very enthusiastic on a laminated wooden wheel system patented by Massachusetts banjo-maker A.C. Fairbanks. He invested a lot of money in what became a complex venture from 1893 until liquidation of 1899. Could it be a Raleigh hub?

If you want new wood rims look towards Italy, always fancied trying a pair myself!
https://www.cerchioghisallo.shop/

Personally, I don't like radial much (especially on wood) and would change to tangent pattern...........but hey, that's just what I would do!

Whatever you do post a picture of the wheels when they are on the bike and let us know what they ride like!

clearly I am no expert, but the only Constrictor hubs I ever saw are stamped "Constrictor" on the center barrel "in line" with the axle, nothing around the circumference of the barrel

The flanges are what have me thinking Constrictor, but not sure which model.
Phil

Looks like someone else is asking the exact same question on Instagram on Vintage lightweight cycles.


"Fairbanks built rims for Constrictor. Viper model. They have a lovely profile. The rear is laced to a flip flop constrictor hub. The front hub has no markings. One rim has the Viper decal removed and on top is another decal, anyone recognise it?"

Just checking. Is the hub axle steel and the flanges aluminium?

Almost certainly.
The hub's centre shell doesn't look like aluminium either.

Aluminium
 

The body is definitely aluminium centre and outer flanges I have tested it with a magnet

interesting! I also would have assumed that "centre barrel" was steel since use of that with ALU alloy flanges was very much a typical choice of materials back when these hubs were made (whenever that was!)
But what if the barrel is Stainless Steel, not at all common but certainty could be non-magnetic? And the first SS was made in Sheffield, so still being "Made in England" is not out of line...;)

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d93aecef67.png
Constrictor Viper hub. I don't think it is the hub in question, but it has been mentioned so good to rule it out.
Can't find a clearer photo, anybody have a set?

Could they be Raleigh Industries?

Could they be Raleigh Industries?