Pre 1950s rides of LFGSS: old bikes, vintage rats, classic lightweights

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Skülly

Ah I’m looking harder, maybe the flanges aren’t canted. Are they?

Then I remembered: there was a ‘brand’ called Milano that maybe had something to do with Holdsworthy (I had a chromed steel stem branded ‘Milano’, came as OEM on a Claud Butler just after Holdsworthy started producing under that marque).

FB certainly made hubs for other companies / stamped with other companies logos.

As clubman said 32/40 suggests UK market.

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The.Gren in reply to @Skülly

Thanks for the input. sorry for the ambiguous pic's, the flanges are slighty canted.

I think the Holdsworthy associated brand was Milremo - back in the day when the UK was trying to copy the European style in so many ways (from Lambretta scooters to Tuti-Frutti Ice-ed-a-creama).

I've had FB, Gnutti, Airlite, Way Assauto, Brit Hub Co, in the past; these are similar but not from the same moulds IMHO. The worst news it that I've got 2 sets of the buggers which I aquired on different bikes - just my luck ;-)

My latest theory is that they are a cheaper variation of the FB made for Simplex Italy - but without the branding. Mine only have a single row of flange holes and the axles are not drilled. This link shows a single sided rear hub, which has elements of my front and rear hubs where the barrel presses into the flanges.
http://www.undergroundbicycleshop.com/19401960/fb-simplex-rear-hub

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Skülly in reply to @The.Gren

I hear what you’re saying, seems like you know all the obvious suggestions.

However, the stem I remembered wasn’t badged ‘milremo’, it was ‘Il Milano’, i.e. The Milanese.

So not exactly the same ‘brand’. But close enough to wonder if there’s a connexion.

Happy hunting.

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