From:Steve Marks
E-Mail:<steve@microdesign.ltd.uk>
Subject:RE: Drop Center Rims for Deluxe
Response to:993
Date:Mon Jun 27 05:04:31 2005
Hi Girard
A few weeks ago I responded to a direct email from one of
our Swedish friends asking much the same question. Two guys
at the same point inside a couple of weeks makes me think
that, maybe others are interested too. So here's the story
of my wheels and how I fitted them - thank God for the 'copy
and paste' facility....
----------
The story of my wheels are as follows:
First I had to get the front and rear hubs all assembled so
that I could mark the rim centre lines on them. The front
one was the easiest. I did this by fitting the hub in the
front forks and marking the centre line as mid 
distance between the fork legs. Then I took the forks out of
the frame and supported the frame on the original rear stand
and on a bar through the front sidecar lugs which rested on
a couple of car axle stands. This proved to be very stable.
A straight rod was placed in the rear wheel axle slots and a
spirit level used to check that it was perfectly horizontal
- I had to put some packing under the stands until it was
right. I then placed a long straight 1/2" diameter rod on
sliding tapered bushes in the frame headstock. The tapered
bushes held the rod central in the headstock. The rod had a
pointed end and was long enough to reach the ground.  Then I
dropped a plumbline from the rod close to the bottom
headstock bearing. Remember that 
the point on this plumbline was to be 1/4" (half rod
diameter) away from the actual centre line as the plumbline
was wrapped around the rod. The point on 
the rod plus the point on the plumbline enabled me to use a
straight edge laid on the ground to bring the centre line
through to the rear of the frame. The rear hub was fitted
with a second plumbline wrapped around it. I 
was able to move the rear hub plumbline across the hub until
it lined up with the straight edge. This position was then
marked on the hub as the required centre line. With the
centre lines marked on both hubs, I then 
visited James Wheildon down near Salisbury, here in the UK.
I asked for standard WM3 19" rims and he stocked them in
bare steel, unpunched. He used special jigs and fixtures to
punch the rims to suit the hubs. He did it 
while I waited and allowed me to watch giving me a running
commentary on what he was doing and why. Fascinating! By
using the marked centre lines together with the diameters
and offsets of the spoke rims on the hubs, he was able to
get the angle of the spoke dimple exactly in the right 
direction - after this visit I realised that not all 40 hole
rims are the same and picking one up from a jumble was
probably not a good idea! He then went on to make the
spokes. After this I took everything home and got the 
rims, spokes and hubs powder coated in a grey finish
(correct colour for my 1920). Then back to James Wheildon
for wheel rebuilding - something I've never attempted myself
- maybe one day. The wheels were then shod with 
400x19 tyres and fitted in the frame - the straight edge
went down the side of the tyres absolutely spot on!

Unfortunately (for us!) James has retired now but he sold
the business out to people who worked for him. They now
trade under the name of the Brickwood Wheel Co, Old
Brickwood Farm, West Grimstead, Salisbury SP5 3RN UK
Telephone +44 (0)1722 712701.

Incidentally, I have used the original trailing link forks.
The backplate is anchored to the fork by a small rod
connected to a bracket welded onto the fork leg. This makes
up a parallelogram with the two fork legs and link and seems
to work OK. The hole in the front mudguard needed to be
enlarged to make way for it welded on bracket.  I took loads
of pictures whilst I was 
doing all this work. Unfortunately my scanner became
obsolete when I upgraded to Windows XP (don't you just love
computers....). I'll take some digital pictures of the final
set up if you are interested. If I can help in 
any way, please ask.
-------------
The above is a word for word copy of my original reply. No
doubt any classic bike wheel builder will be able to do much
the same job as James did for me so you should be able to
find someone local to yourselves. The final paragraph refers
to the fact that I fitted a front brake.

So now you all know - drop centre rims, wired edge tyres and
a front brake (and a few other bits I've not mentioned!) - I
KNOW IT'S NOT STANDARD and I promise not to enter it for
judging - though I might ride it there one day....
Safe riding to you all - Steve


----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
Greetings all !
Does anybody know of a source for drop center rims that
would
fit my '22 Deluxe ??  I am attempting to build a bike that
can
be ridden with confidence to swap meets.  This bike wants to
ay off the trailer, and any leads would be much
appreciated.
Thanks !