Robvolz 

And why would they be on a 70s Colnago with Italian rims?

I see no markings on them anywhere.

Dave Mayer

Weyless. I know I have an unlaced, new set of these deep in my hub bin, but I haven't dug that far down in years. Note the cartridge bearing design, which instead of a rubber seal, features some kind of fabric-type material. Asbestos?

Robvolz 

Yowzers… rated “extremely rare”

Robvolz 

just great. Thanks a lot. No chance of getting anything done today as I go down that rabbit hole.

i kid

Awesome source of knowledge. Thank you so much.

merziac

That would explain why they're on a Colnago.

Robvolz 

Where would these hubs be most appropriate? A custom American build? Schwinn paramount?

fender1

I think an American build would be "most" appropriate but that said, it was 70's! Free love, no bra's etc. so go with what feels good!

Weyless main

Velo Mule

A lot of race bikes were purchased as frames only and the owner assembled the components to build it into a bicycle. Keep in mind too that most racers were didn't have enough money to build up a complete bike they way they would like. They often had a previous lower end bike that carried over some parts and a subscription to a magazine that had mail order parts available for discount prices.

So, you would build your own wheels. Carry over less than optimal components and end up with a mish-mash, But all that didn't matter. What mattered was how good you were. Nobody cared about which component group you had. Or if you have fancy handlebar wrap.

Robvolz 

The handlebar wrap doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be white. Or have been white at one time.

I love the look of old racers who just put new tape on top of old for a little extra cushion, etc.…

after use and time it could look like a mummy

Believe me, I fully understand the mix-and-match of components. My old Holdsworth had campy drivetrain but universal brakes. Mismatch rims and GRAB-ON grips which were universally hated by anybody with an actual racing Pedigree

However, these hubs seem like they were more expensive than Campy when new and certainly they have increased in value.

In an old box of parts I found some small flange Colnago Pantograph record hubs that I would rather use.

If anybody has a real hankering for these hubs, send me a message. They don’t mean anything to me but they might mean more to someone else.

jdawginsc 

I wondered about that. Or is some early nylon webbing to create a better seal. They made some unique stuff.

steelbikeguy

BITD, those hubs were pretty intriguing!
The advertisements sure had me lusting for a pair!





Steve in Peoria
(pretty happy with my Campy Record hubs, though)

Drillium Dude 

Kinda looks like a thin wafer of fiberglass or fiberboard, you know, the stuff similar to computer boards back in the 60s and 70s?

Probably an early, lightweight, and thin dust shield which appears to have been eschewed on subsequent editions.

DD

Wildwood 

Find a Colnago?

I put the sexiest parts on the fastest bikes.
Lightest parts on the climbers.
Clinchers on the triples.

...not sure there's a Rule...

obrentharris 

Digging deep in the memory banks here: Keep the skewers with the hubs. As I recall the skewers were larger diameter than traditional skewers and would not work with other hubs. (Maybe only the rear)

I also seem to recall that these hubs, as well as the American Classics, would develop a bit of side play in the bearings after a couple thousand miles; still usable and not noticeable while riding (to me) but a bit disconcerting to the fastidious.

The seventies were the decade when North American cycling discovered sealed bearing hubs, Phil Wood, Weyless, Hi-e, American Classic, and probably a couple others I'm forgetting. It would be interesting to hear from some of our overseas members whether these products, made by relatively small companies, ever made it off this continent in any significant numbers.
Brent

Robvolz 

their ad reads, “we seal them with Teflon, which keeps out dust and dirt which is the number one cause of bearing failure.”

except Teflon is a coating, so who knows what the actual substructure material is.

I am going to swap them out. Take them apart and report here.

Reynolds 531 

incredibly popular right now. Known as "RetroKult"

Robvolz 

Crazy….

Weyless Hub Set

USA

1975 - 1978

Weyless Inc., was founded by a colorful individual named Lester Tabb. Tabb was a multimillionare who ran a mint in Greenwich Conn. Born in Brooklyn, Tabb was later called a power-hungry, bipolar lunatic in a book written by his son George. Anyway, Tabb began riding an Olympia bike in 1972 and got excited about bikes and riding. He rode Cinelli rollers in the Winter but wanted to make a better set of rollers with steps on the side to ease mounting. Weyless was founded in 1975 with the introduction of their high quality rollers. In addition to the rollers, Tabb's company manufactured this seat post and hubs designed by Bill Shook (of American Classic fame) and pedals designed by Bob Reedy. Tabbs cycling business venture downfall came when he added wool clothing to the mix. The clothing was made of wool that was supposed to not shrink. Unfortunately, the wool did shrink, the clothes fit poorly, and this basically did the firm in. Tabb moved his family south and remodeled Tara, the home from the movie Gone with the Wind. Eventually it is rumored, that Tabb ended up in jail as a result of a Florida real estate shenanigan. Tabb's son George did gain some success as a writer, chronicling his disfunctional family life in a memoir titled Surfing Armageddon - Fishnets, Fascists, and Body Fluids in Florida.

steelbikeguy

The Weyless rollers really were nice! I bought a set around 1976 and used them for decades. The steps really made it easy to mount and dismount, which removes some of the anxiety from the learning process.
An advertisement from 1977....



An ad for the Weyless clothing, also from 1977.
Never tried it myself... didn't really buy much bike specific clothing until later.





Steve in Peoria

cudak888 

Citation needed. Tara was a prop building in California.

The whole story sounds a bit OTT too.

-Kurt

Robvolz 

The gloves look nice

Bianchigirll 

How many spokes? Are they tubular rims? They may have been the previous owner’s race wheels, or perhaps he just chose these because of the sealed bearings. If they are in great shape they would be appropriate anywhere.

Robvolz 

Yes the rims are tubular. I’ll post to side pic in just a moment.

repechage

Weyless - Designing the Future

their seatposts were very lightweight.
pedals and bottle cage also

i liked the wool jerseys, no side seams

repechage

"bowtie" Martano tubular rims early with machined sides

Robvolz