From:Perry Ruiter
E-Mail:<perry @ ruiter.ca>
Subject:RE: RE: black rims
Response to:950
Date:Mon Apr 25 00:51:12 2005
  I just harvested that photo from the eBay auction and have
added it to the black wheel rim page:
http://www.hendersonkj.com/ffo/wheels/blackwheels.html
According to the caption below the photo, ratsown *is* Rat
from Harbour Vintage.  If the ultimate purchaser is out
there and wants to email me a higher resolution scan after
they receive it, it would be appreciated (and I'd update the
site with it of course).  Or just have it sent directly to
me for safe keeping ;-) ... Perry

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
Hi Marty,

Ratstown is not Rat's ebay handle.  Besides, if Rat had this
hoto I'd have owned it by now.  Anyway, getting back to
black rims, several things should be considered.  Police
colors like white and silver were not listed in the catalogs
r dealer bulletins but were obviously offered.  Chuck's
original Indianapolis police bike is silver with silver
rims.  Remember, police orders were fleet orders and were
accomodated.  As is the case, it is up to any owner of a
bike in judging who deviates from the norm to prove the
anomoly.  Thus it would take a dealer order requesting black
heels to prove they were offered to the public.  Remember,
Henderson parts, including wheels, were produced well into
the 1930's.  I have some parts that appear NOS that are cad
plated.  My KL has original black 18" rims but I know these
were wheels John Scharle bought in the later '30's.  I'd
still like to see a dealer order.

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
I just love the subject of black rims [since mine are black
and I love to harass one of my dear friends, big Steve].
E-bay has an original Chicago Police Department pic of 12
bikes and guess what- the rims are black. If they custom
painted for a police department, it seems logical you could
special order them this way as a civilian. Given that cream
was standard, but has anyone ever come up with an order
blank that can prove you could not order black? This is the
third posting I have now seen with black rims although each
was a police department. Big Steve- is Ratsown[the lister]
of Harbor Vintage our buddy Rat? Maybe you could get him to
send a copy to the site before he mails it to the winner
[five days left]. Marty