period correct rims
 

While working on some older restorations I realized I really don't have a clear picture of what rims were available when. Can anyone fill in a timeline of rims, in terms of manufacturers and models, for say the mid 50s through the early 80s? What rims were available and desirable at various time periods? I am talking primarily about tubular rims for lightweight, racing style bikes. For instance I have a 1961 Bianchi Specialissima. The original hubs have been laced to some pretty crappy, much newer, clincher rims. I want to put it back in more original condition and need to figure out what rims I should be looking for.

I'm not sure you would want the original rims back on this bike. Being a 61 it likely had Regida steel rims on it originally laced to Campy record hubs.

For a 1961 Bianchi I would go Nisi (without eyelets- washers and if you can find them radial braking surface knurling) or Fiamme Red labels, with the red label, there were variations over the years of this graphic and the type of transfer it was created with but unless you are willing to spend the big dollars that should satisfy most period correct zealots. Actually you may be in for spending big dollars in any case, rims get consumed.

Other than that you have a big request, I will leave it at the specific case.

I doubt Rigida, the Specialissima was one of the top line racing models, it came with tubulars.

If it'll help, BD63, my 63 Frejus came originally with Nisi tubular rims with no ferrules. Washers only. They did have the serrated braking surfaces but since they were shot, I sourced a NOS set of Nisi rims, with no ferrules in the holes. Smooth braking surfaces. Identifying particular models of Nisi rims is a crap shoot, at least for me, but I've heard this model referred to as Moncalieri. But I think that is only because they are stamped as such, and it is the town where they were manufactured.

Nisi or Fiamme tubular rims will work nicely with that bike, and so will Super Champions (Super Champion eventually became or merged with Wolber, maybe in the late 70's). the "Arc en ciel" model was very popular, all the way into the early 80's. Prices on NOS or used rims of such are readily available in eBay, They used to be affordable enough, but the "rediscovery" of tubular tires by many riders seem to be starting to drive their prices up quite a bit, the last time I checked, especailly for NOS ones. What ever rims you do get, just make sure you get silver/clear anodized rims and nothing dark/color anodized which came out in the 80's. I think some companies might have produced gold color anodized rims in the 70's though, but I suspect not too many. So those could be open for consideration too.

Chombi

Thanks guys. Very helpful. I suspected Nisi or Fiamme would be a good choice.

I always go with Fiamme for 50's-60's-early 70's. For mid 70's and up I like Super Champion and Mavic. I have Nisi's on one restoration, but I prefer eyelets if I'm starting from scratch.

What about Martano rims?

I would recommend Ambrosio too. But those rims are freakishly rare from the 40s/50s/early 60s. If you do find them, they go for pretty cheap because people don't know what they are.

Fiamme yellow labels would be nice.

My early 60's Specialissima:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6027/6...c9de4030_z.jpg

Weinmann also made some pretty cool rims in their day, includiing 27" aluminum ones and wood-filled aluminum tubular rims.

The build sheet for my 1954 Drysdale specifies "Vanzone rims, alloy, 27 x 1 1/4" which (other than the obvious) means nothing to me. Has anyone ever heard of Vanzone rims? Drysdale's spelling could be a little idiosyncratic (the sheet also specifies 'Weinaman' brakes).

How many tubular rims have I pitched out??? In days gone bye, I saw no value in them. These days, my heart stops when I stumble across a nice old set of NISI, or Mavic, or Fiamme, or Ambrosia, or...

The point is, rims get the crop beat out of them, mile after mile. The day will come when finding a vintage rim will be a very costly endeavor. These days, I tuck any decent rim, be it tubular or clincher, away for something someday. And...

My 1958 Carlton came fitted with 27" alloy rims, as I recall, but I have no picture (believe it or not) to verify that claim.

I ended up picking up a set of Nisi Moncalieri rims, with a set of Nisi Toro rims thrown in. I think these will be a good match. The older Fiamme with the oval label are hard to find.

Can't wait to see the finished bike BD63.