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Laced up by @speedevil. Pending a DS rear cap, another set will be built, and used.
Front https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...21e0f75848.jpg Rear https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e10fb5a24d.jpg |
Originally Posted by RobbieTunes
(Post 20789186)
Laced up by @speedevil. Pending a DS rear cap, another set will be built, and used.
Front https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...21e0f75848.jpg Rear https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e10fb5a24d.jpg |
The story of Hi-E and creations of Harlan Meyer is quite remarkable. Some of it is waaaay out there! The linked article below is well worth the read. The riveted Cosmopolitan frames..... oh my. And the ultra light rims that he formed pretty much remind me of aluminum rain gutters.
Larry Black shared a most comical story about one time visiting Meyer on a detour - during crew RAAM event. His description of the concrete floor directly above in a portion of the shop... Maybe he'll pipe in and describe in his own words, as otherwise beyond ones imagination hilarious. See and read >> https://www.gravelcyclist.com/bicycl...-cosmopolitan/ |
Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh
(Post 20789509)
Those are the Hi-E QR skewers I'd like to find for my set of wheels. I knew there were two versions.
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I don't know if this was a Hi-E sponsored team, or the Hi-E team itself, but this is a t-shirt with a Hi-E logo.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0a796f4cf6.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e511a46d8e.jpg |
The owner of my lbs and I talked about buying what was left of Hi-E back when it was for sale. Too bad about the person who bought it. I wonder if his son is interested in selling. LBS owner tried to give me some Hi-E stuff, but I'm paring down my collection
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
(Post 8452685)
Most rims are extrusions, the Hi-E rims were made from aluminum sheet.
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Originally Posted by hazetguy
(Post 20825617)
I don't know if this was a Hi-E sponsored team, or the Hi-E team itself, but this is a t-shirt with a Hi-E logo.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0a796f4cf6.jpg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e511a46d8e.jpg |
Originally Posted by Chombi1
(Post 20825743)
Maybe it's for the Hi-E office softball or touch football team??
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First: let me preface this by saying I am in NO WAY a Hi-E expert. Actually, I'm not very knowledgeable about Hi-E at all, other than what I have gleaned from forums, or reading pages of tech info and reviews found online.
Secondly: and this might make some people's heads explode: The following pics are of Hi-E items that I (and another guy I met) basically (cover your eyes if you are weak hearted), saved from being scrapped, but please don't think that this stuff was free to me. Thirdly: here's what I know about the parts I have. These are all from Hi-E production runs years ago, and from what I have been told by Jeff Archer's son, is that when First Flight bought everything from Hi-E, they went through everything and assembled what they could from the parts they had. There apparently was some discussion about FF manufacturing the parts necessary to make more complete assemblies, but that never happened. So, apparently, a lot of what I have is just parts, not complete assemblies. However, just from my little bit of knowledge, I feel like a few more things can be put together. Fourth: Now that this stuff is in my possession, it is not going to scrap. I have a lot going on in my life these days, and all of this Hi-E stuff is pretty low priority for me to do anything with right now. That being said, I don't mind getting parts to people, so if you see soemthing that you could use, send me a PM. I'm not interested in selling huge lots right now, as at some point in the future (perhaps this fall) I'd like to go through it all and see what exactly is there. So, here are some pics................ Skewer wing nuts https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0afb4593ee.jpg Skewer axleshttps://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...110a9432ca.jpg Hub end cap spacers of differing lengthshttps://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0039bc85aa.jpg 173 pounds of skewer axleshttps://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6e999035f3.jpg Pedal axleshttps://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...83eac7469b.jpg Misc pedal partshttps://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...651d98b62c.jpg Pedal bearingshttps://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...44550b5a4d.jpg Pedal spacers and spring washershttps://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a70a6af639.jpg Rear hub partshttps://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a976e0516b.jpg |
more pics
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...98633903b8.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bd6606bb9c.jpg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a1cafd09f4.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a24abe715f.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...62c202d96d.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1daf3d0f94.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...31381527e7.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b7b4657de7.jpg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d8ca82bc27.jpg |
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Whoa.
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You has it now...I didn't know that Jeff was gone. Sorry to hear that. I had exchanged emails with him a few times. They close the museum?
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My understanding was that they were going to sell off the contents of the museum. Not sure if that happened or if it was just a rumor.
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Resurrecting this thread yet again. I have a Hi-E Hi-Lo hub with 14 holes on the non-drive side and 28 holes on the other. The most logical way to build it up is on a 28-hole rim, skipping every other hole on the drive side, but it seems to me I heard about Harlan making some special rims to go along with weird hub drillings. Can anyone shed light on that subject?
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Originally Posted by unterhausen
(Post 8451666)
I used to have one of the front hubs on the right. I think I may have had a rear hub. Don't remember what happened to them. If I did have a rear hub, it was either high flange or hi/low. My friend had high/low laced radially on the non-drive side. We both had weight weenie Teledyne titans.
I saw Phil Wood's site said he pioneered the use of sealed bearings on bicycles, and I was wondering if Harlan didn't beat him by a short time. I loved the Hi-E pedals, never owned any though. Those rims were a trip. I knew a fairly large guy that used to ride them, he ran a stop sign (during a race? I forget) and wiped the rims out on a car. My friend with the Teledyne had the rims. Incredibly light, but my friend only weight about 120. Did he make seatposts? I have one I have been thinking is a Hi-E, but now I'm doubting myself. |
Just stumbled on this old thread.
I bought a pair of Hi/E wheels in the early 70's, incl. his rims and radially spoked front wheel. In the CT state road championship someone fell in front of me. I hit his bike, still attached to him (cleats, tight straps). My front wheel collapsed, tearing out about 6 inches of rim. My PX10, went down onto the fork ends and bent top and down tubes. I went to Peter Weigle, who had won the race, and he said it could be fixed, but wasn't worth doing. I traded the HiE hubs toward replacement wheels, and they sat in the display cabinet of LBS for years. |
I'll update my portion of this thread.
Super long story, condensed: the Hi-E stuff I pictured came from First Flight/Mombat. They did not have an auction, Jeff's son was basically selling off what remained in an effort to essentially be done with it all. He sold some items on eBay and facebook, but a lot of it was sold in person. I happen to live a couple hours from where Mombat was, so it was relatively easy for me to make multiple trips to buy stuff (in quantity). A few other people bought stuff, but I feel like I wound up with a good portion of parts from there. Eventually, Jeff's son got rid of "everything" and moved out of NC. Some of the Hi-E items pictured above were sold on eBay and here. A good portion of the skewer rods and other misc skewer pieces are in Colorado, being put to use or being used for small run reproduction for mtb application. About 99% of the remaining items I pictured above were sold and are in Massachussetts, again, being used or small run reproduction of things, with possible remaking of items in the future. The "Hi-E unknown" chainrings are for Dan / Ed cranks, a fairly "rare" and "uncommon" lightweight manufacturer from eastern Pennsylvania, long out of business. I still have a large pile of them, but they are basically dead stock and I can't give them away. I know that all the parts went to good homes, where they will at least have a chance of being used, rather than languishing in my basement (and it's really nice to have all that room again). I did keep a few small bits and pieces as a reminder of the parts stash, and for "historical" purposes. |
Hi-E wheelset on Teledyne Titan at River City Bicycles
Hi folks, figured I'd post these here. This Hi-E wheelset is hanging on a Teledyne Titan on display at River City Bicycles in Portland, OR. These might be of special interest because they appear to have a slightly different construction type than most of the other rims.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ebecad8db3.png https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ccc9bdf0a0.png In my collection I've got a set of the early 36h hubs, low flange front and high flange rear, with the stickers instead of engraving. 120 spaced. The front was radially laced and the rear was radial on the non-drive side, kinda neat. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ca9e608d2e.png (One of the stickers is upside down so looks like I'm stuck with a left-hand drivetrain lol) And I just recently got myself a 28h front hub for a 1988 titanium bike that I'm slowly building up as a lightweight build. Now I need a 28h rear hub, and really light rims (I'm a small gal). Thinking about Mavic Argent 7s. Or, heck, if I ever found a pair of Hi-E rims, well that would really be something... |
Originally Posted by 3dvvitch
(Post 22361804)
Hi folks, figured I'd post these here. This Hi-E wheelset is hanging on a Teledyne Titan on display at River City Bicycles in Portland, OR. These might be of special interest because they appear to have a slightly different construction type than most of the other rims.
<...snip...> .....Or, heck, if I ever found a pair of Hi-E rims, well that would really be something... The Hi-E sales literature in the early 90's claimed that the weight was 250 grams, and had the disclaimer "failure is safe, but may occur at less than rated loads". Harlan was an engineer, so I wonder what the rated load was supposed to mean? The load at which the spokes all ripped out of the rim simultaneously?? https://live.staticflickr.com/5235/7...126bca_b_d.jpg Steve in Peoria |
Originally Posted by 3dvvitch
(Post 22361804)
This Hi-E wheelset is hanging on a Teledyne Titan on display at River City Bicycles in Portland, OR.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ccc9bdf0a0.png (One of the stickers is upside down so looks like I'm stuck with a left-hand drivetrain lol) DD |
Originally Posted by 3dvvitch
(Post 22361804)
Hi folks, figured I'd post these here. This Hi-E wheelset is hanging on a Teledyne Titan on display at River City Bicycles in Portland, OR. These might be of special interest because they appear to have a slightly different construction type than most of the other rims.
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The original front skewers had dangerously failure-prone aluminum axles. Sometimes weight weenieness is overdone.
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Originally Posted by John E
(Post 22363091)
The original front skewers had dangerously failure-prone aluminum axles. Sometimes weight weenieness is overdone.
I' bought mine in the 70's, so maybe they changed since then? This is what I've got now: They have stainless shafts, or some other alloy that doesn't seem to corrode. https://live.staticflickr.com/5527/2...c8501f_c_d.jpg Looking at the marketing literature from the 90's, it does look like Harlan offered a version with an aluminum shaft. I stand corrected! That does seem particularly ill advised. https://live.staticflickr.com/7238/7...9ccaae_b_d.jpg Steve in Peoria |
I worked at Bikecology 1972 to 1974 when Hi-E stuff first came out. They had a big aluminum shaft recall back then. This was the first wave of weight weenie wars, and drilium was the rage, as well.
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
(Post 22363012)
Yes, they are made differently from other rims. Most rims start as straight extrusions that are cut to length, rolled onto a circle, and pinned or welded closed. Hi-E rims start as aluminum sheet, cut to width, folded into a box shape, seam riveted, rolled into a circle and pinned closed.
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Originally Posted by John E
(Post 22363160)
I worked at Bikecology 1972 to 1974 when Hi-E stuff first came out. They had a big aluminum shaft recall back then. This was the first wave of weight weenie wars, and drilium was the rage, as well.
And a front wheel track version with two wrench flats. I have an aluminum front with the wing rod. A display item. Rich Hammond (aka Captain America) broke one on his Geoffrey Butler in 1974. wasted the fork. he was quite pleased that the Builder could make him a replacement, essentially identical even the same color. |
Riveted frame
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2a80db3388.jpg
Early HI-E Cosmopolitan Harland worked in the avaition industry and they like to rivet everything. He gave this Lady Cosmopolitan to my friend and I have been slowly getting it back into riding condition. |
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