I started work on the '56 Sports step-through I am bringing up to snuff for my fiance. I have a donor '72 Sports, and I'm using the AW-equipped wheel from it for this '56 until next winter. The bike came with an SW three-speed from early in SW production - October 1956. The hub shifts poorly (I suspect that is why the cycle is in such nice shape) and after reading Sheldon's pieces on that SW's design faults I've decided not to bother with it for this application. The '72 AW looked pretty good inside after I cracked it open despite an obviously rough and neglected life for the rest of the donor bike. Waiting in the wings is an AW dated July 1956. If she likes the bike - and I think she will - I plan to build an alloy wheelset to lighten things up. I'll use the '56 hub for that to keep things period correct and keep the '72 as spare. Anyway, I always enjoy opening up these hubs, cleaning them, and packing in new bearings and grease. Tick, tick, tick...
