Wildwood 

Got a good price so I jumped on the wheels.
Velobase has no comments on either. The rims are the Montreal Mappamondo D’Oro (36 hole). Hubs are marked ‘75, so 40 years old and spin smooooooothly.

Experiences with either hub or rims appreciated greatly.


Need cleaning, new grease possibly.

noobinsf 

No experience with the rims, but the hubs are top of the line for racers. I have an '81 set on my Univega, and they are very smooth. I remember reading somewhere that the bearing surfaces are softer than in other hubs, so it's best to keep on top of maintenance.

Ex Pres 

Tubular? I have a set of Montreal tubs, gold ano, on my Italvega. I like 'em fine. The rims are a little on the heavy side; IIRC I weighed them at >400g/ea [before I laced 'em up]. But I'm a little on the heavy side, too.

DiegoFrogs

I had a set of those hubs on my Pro Tour that probably sat idle for 30+ years when I got it. The normal clean and re-pack did the job.

I got rid of them when moving overseas. Now I wish I had unlaced the wheels and kept the hubs. They were that nice.

Mad Honk 

I have a set of those Montrreal's laced up for track. Lightweight and can take some lateral force. Likely a good set of wheels. I hope you got a great price on them. Smiles, MH

rgvg

I got a pair a couple of months ago. Seller (and the internet) says it's a precursor to the Superbe hubs. Mine are low flange. They were just taking up space at the seller's place so he sold them for $35 CAD (about $25USD). Haven't used them yet.

3speedslow

I have a set of these. Are they that much different. Tubs as well and I believe Velobase lists them as 70’s era.


Might lace them to some Gnutti hubs.

Wildwood 

thanks for comments all

Yes, they look similar rims as above from 1 pic = dark ano. Yours 36 hole?

Yes to tubular. yes, the rims do not feel light. I think this wheelset can best roll a less than top-of-th-line tire. Which I have with tanwalls.

Good heads up on maintenance. Grease and balls are cheap and in stock @ home.

stardognine

Do those Pro Ams really take ball bearings? I would have thought they were cartridge bearing hubs, but never had those ones, obviously.

I recently got the Sansin Gyro Masters, which are cartridge bearing, and man are they smooth. 😎 I thought my other Sansin hubs (BMX high-flanges with cartridge bearing) were smooth, but these GMs are a level up again. 🙂

noobinsf 

What year are the Gyro Masters? I also have a set of GyroMasters, but they are loose ball. Not sure the year, haven’t checked the date code.

Wildwood 

Follow-up pics.
Front wheel cleaned up visually. Blue Magic* metal cleaner. The spokes will need more cleaning before shining. The freewheel needs some attention before I clean the rear wheel.





edit:: close-up pics always show where a toothbrush is needed!

Wildwood 

3speedslow - similarities to Montreal Medaille d’Oro may be less than I first thought. Yours seem to have more curvature on the rim. Mine seem to be darker, flatter with a 90* to the braking surface and they feel heavy. I would venture that ‘Mappamondo’ is more of a touring rim. Feels heavier compared to Mavic GL330 but both had freewheels so my weight comparison is only a guess by feel..

Wildwood 

After seeing these black rims, the bike they match is a current project = with black painted lugs (gunmetal grey tubes). There will be shiny silver components everywhere, Galli levers (shown) with Universal sidepull brakes and Huret shifters/fd/rd.

Bianchigirll 

I have owned and still own several pair of Ambrosio tubular rims not all them Montreals and they are nice. I never paid much attention to which are lighter than others, it isn't that important to me. I always thought the quality was just as good as Mavic but not as expensive especially when looking for NOZ rims, well back in 2010 they weren't that pricey.

Ambrosio clinchers forgaboutit! I never had one that wasy to get a tire on

Iowegian

I am also a big fan of the Pro-Am hubs. They are as nice as any ball bearing hubs I have ever seen. It should be a great set of wheels.

That said, I had a nice Superb Pro cartridge bearing hub ruined at the bike co-op today. Not 100% the mechanic's fault since I got the hub free with a box of old bike parts. Someone had cut the hub out of a wheel and there was still a freewheel on it I laced up the other side of the wheel and took it to the co-op since I don't have a mounted vice at home. With Covid restrictions, I had to wait in the parking lot. I specifically told him that all I cared about was the hub. Anyway, it came back trashed after he put the hub body in the vice. The 'good' news is the freewheel came off. I had to ask for the rim back (nice-ish Swiss DT) and when I got home I remembered I still don't have the freewheel tool (Sachs) so I'll have to go back for that. To be fair, he gave me a replacement Sprint hub which is probably just as good although it doesn't have the 'je ne sais quoi' of the SuperB hub. Both are cartridge bearing hubs and are just sooo smoooth.

Lascauxcaveman 

He put the hub in a vise? AFTER you told him that's the part you wanted to save? Man, that right there is some rookie BS.

OTOH, @Wildwood scores again!