Custom Wheels - 1949 Schwinn New World

 After some poking around, I found that the premium wheelset on the 1949 Schwinn New World project is homemade or at least a bike shop made set. The rims are Dunlop Stainless 26 x 1-1/4 (597mm), the hubs are BH Airlyte mixed steel/aluminum front and Sturmey Archer AM medium ration (late 1948 production) in the back.

Here's the strange thing, both hubs were laced with heavy duty type spokes. The fronts were straight gauge, heavy-duty spokes and the backs were double-butted heavy-duty spokes with washers at the hub flange. The holes in the hubs may have been enlarged a bit to take these spokes. The spokes are kind of rusty and probably should be replaced.

The rims do not appear to have been modified at all.  They really, really nice rims.

So the bottom line is it's a nice set of hubs and rims, but certainly not something put together by the Schwinn factory. My guess is that someone wanted an upgraded wheelset and did it at home or had a local shop do it.

So I get to make some choices. I do have a very nice, freshly made set of Schwinn 3 speed wheels with new-old-stock (never used) S6 rims, double-butted spokes, and a 1955 Sturmey Archer AW hub. That may be closest to "original". Though I will admit that using those high-end Dunlop Stainless rims appeals to me still. It's all something to consider... I'll have to see where the project takes me. 

And I think that is the lesson - don't assume going in that you know exactly every outcome of a project. Allow success to take an unexpected or even an improvised form. Let the project develop a bit as you work, and make decisions as you go based on what you find as the project progresses.