50's Speedwell Popular part 3 - Westwood rims & wheel building

 This is the part of rebuilding or restoration that I tend to put off, which leaves projects lingering in pieces for far too long. This winter I decided to build all the wheels I need for all the bikes I'll keep or sell. So far I've built 11 wheels, with one more to go. 

 

      1 gross = 144, enough washers for 4 wheels                ...mmm, crunchy & rich in iron

These are stamped BTM 28 x 1 3/8. BTM were British Tube Mills (Aus), a steel tubing manufacturer that made (amongst many other things) components for Australian bicycle companies. You can read more about them at the aussievelos website http://www.aussievelos.net/british-tube-mills-btm/

 

                   B T M   28 x 1 3/8                                                   The worst of the rust

                           Rust cleaned up                              Masked & ready to spray with Zinc paint

 

                              Zinced and spoked                                     Rim washers sharing the load

They're in decent condition for their age, but I want them to last at least as long as I can ride, so the inner surfaces have been de-rusted and painted with zinc paint for protection. Brass spoke washers (as seen in the 1st image of this post) are used under the heads of the spokes to take up any slack in the j bend.

            Upper tyre treated, lower tyre waiting treatment                      INFLATED  HARD

 

These Dunlop Atlantic tyres are in amazing condition for their age. I hope they last a while. They're at least 50 years old and could possibly be as old as the bike. I'd be interested to know more about the history of  Dunlop as a bicycle tyre manufacturer. Sheldon Brown writes of Raleighs relationship with Dunlop souring in the late 60's, which inspired Dunlop to completely quit making bicycle tyres!

 

https://sheldonbrown.com/raleigh.html

I came across an article explaining how old timers treated their tyres with a paste made from equal parts boiled linseed oil and beeswax. It was thought to nourish the rubber and increase the lifespan of the tyre. It's given them a nice sheen at least.