Author Topic: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels  (Read 2737 times)

WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« on: 25 November, 2020, 06:56:58 pm »
I'm restoring another bike and both wheels are "shot" with all the chrome peeling off - ideally I'd like some RIGIDA NOS wheels or rims.

I want to keep the bike as "original" as possible and that's why I would like STEEL not alloy rims.

Having the existing rims re-chromed is an alternative, but the rims aren't in great condition and there aren't many companies around that seem to do this at a reasonable price

Have you guys any ideas - I have searched the internet and eBay for the past few weeks and have had no luck

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #1 on: 25 November, 2020, 08:30:36 pm »
Not the Bickerton? They have a 14” front wheel.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #2 on: 25 November, 2020, 08:39:27 pm »
Not the Bickerton? They have a 14” front wheel.

not the Bickerton - although I can use a Bickerton rear, and rebuild the wheel around the original hub

Just completely dismantled the Bike, and I'm "sympaphetically restoring" each part


LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #3 on: 25 November, 2020, 08:45:55 pm »
That is an early one. Were they using a 20 spoke front wheel at that time or 28?

If you are near London, let me know if you need to use Brompton hinge pin, swingarm or seatpost tools. It looks like the hinge pins may be different to the later SWB frames.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #4 on: 25 November, 2020, 08:51:21 pm »
That is an early one. If you are near London, let me know if you need to use Brompton hinge pin, swingarm or seatpost tools. It looks like the hinge pins may be different to the later SWB frames.

Thanks - will probably take you up on that - I'm in Hampshire

I've noticed that most of the sizes are imperial, (i.e. not metric)

the swing arm, rear triangle pin seems OK as does the plastic, (?), seat post sleeve - but I may fit new hinge and rear triangle pins if I can get them - but at the moment my problem is wheels, the chrome plating is flaking on both and the rust is well into the metal.

Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #5 on: 25 November, 2020, 08:54:30 pm »
24 spokes?? on the front

I thought, but I better check now you have mentioned it

(Yep - 24 and 28)

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #6 on: 25 November, 2020, 09:03:14 pm »
I think the first SWB production (after your handbuilt one) used 20 spoke front wheels before they went 28/28.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #7 on: 25 November, 2020, 11:03:39 pm »
if you are refurbing it to ride (rather than to look at, or be a collector's item) I'd suggest using aluminium rims rather than steel ones.  That way the brakes have a chance of working.

BTW rechroming rusty steel bicycle rims is pretty much a waste of time; the metal is not thick enough to take any amount of polishing, and without polishing the metal smooth before plating, the plating will look terrible.

If you want so see just how thin the steel is, try cutting a scrap rim open and measure it. You might be surprised.

cheers

Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #8 on: 26 November, 2020, 10:53:24 pm »
I think the first SWB production (after your handbuilt one) used 20 spoke front wheels before they went 28/28.

The steel rims of the Mk0 and Mk1 bikes were 24/28 and once they changed to Alloy rims in about 1991, the Mk2 Bikes, (after producing maybe 4000 or 5000 Mk2's with steel rims), the change was made to 28/28

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #9 on: 26 November, 2020, 11:02:20 pm »
I remember Dave Halliday using Brompton’s 20 spoke front wheels well after Brompton went to a 28 spoke front wheel.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Re: WANTED: 16" x 1 ⅜" (37-349) - CHROME Rims or wheels
« Reply #10 on: 29 November, 2020, 07:07:56 pm »
Just stripped the Bike down and "restored" what i could - need a few parts