Mystery Front Hub - Vintage American Classic?

[denvervig]

Picked up this vintage hub that is laced to a near perfect Wolber Profil 18 tubular rim and wondering if anyone can identify it? I've seen pictures of a similar vintage Amercian Classic hub but it had an identifying logo or equivalent on the shell whereas this one has nothing. Of course, it may just be some vintage generic hub.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/k8L8EgBg7fapnXoT7

[Mark McM]

That looks very much like an American Class Speedster front hub.

http://www.bikepro.com/products/hubs/hubs_jpg/amerfrt_15.jpg


http://www.bikepro.com/products/hubs/hubs_american.html



This leads to an auxiliary question: The photo and link above are from the web page of BikePro, a mail order bike company. BikePro went out of business more than 20 years ago - who's hosting their web page?

[Pegoready]

This leads to an auxiliary question: The photo and link above are from the web page of BikePro, a mail order bike company. BikePro went out of business more than 20 years ago - who's hosting their web page?

A mystery for the ages. The site is generally well written and factually accurate too.

I also wonder who updates the Sheldon Brown site. I use their gear calculator all the time and someone is totally updating the cassettes, which is amazing. All the way through AXS WIDE 10-36. It's really funny running gear numbers on a 2020 group on a site that is from the Angelfire era.

[unterhausen]

Sheldon's site is maintained by someone at Harris Cyclery, isn't it?

[donevwil]

...This leads to an auxiliary question: The photo and link above are from the web page of BikePro, a mail order bike company. BikePro went out of business more than 20 years ago - who's hosting their web page?

I've wondered that myself as BikePro used to be here in Santa Rosa. I stumbled on this the other day when buying something from BikeBling in Escondido:

BikeBling.com - 1-800-BIKEPRO is Bike Bling

Could it be?

[Gummee]

Look like the wrong end caps for an Am Classic

M

[Mark McM]

Look like the wrong end caps for an Am Classic

M

What do you mean, the end caps look identical.

http://www.bikepro.com/products/hubs/hubs_jpg/amerfrt_15.jpghttps://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3fECj9XEurLK-tGdXFG0kNU1SDkh3Vp5ES-H1NaclmNxbZyHxuQGpsUwMlVcdBfMKsb5gu1rvXv1CAIkjUUrq QWjQ6v2uzO3mHHh7fFrBhYL6SDfQ8CPn5am-SsVXzn4DS5UYqA8BKFY4kiqerp148-vA=w394-h525-no

[Velocipede]

Picked up this vintage hub that is laced to a near perfect Wolber Profil 18 tubular rim and wondering if anyone can identify it? I've seen pictures of a similar vintage Amercian Classic hub but it had an identifying logo or equivalent on the shell whereas this one has nothing. Of course, it may just be some vintage generic hub.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/k8L8EgBg7fapnXoT7


It's an American Classic hub. It was made in Ohio. They did a few versions of the front hub. This was a 1-piece shell. They were made from bar stock and the flanges had a tendency to break cause the aluminum wasn't forged. So make sure to check the flanges well.

Also, they did a few different graphics for them- engraved, red/white/blue sticker, black sticker, stickers with the words American Classic, stickers with they the eagle logo. This is partly due to the hubs being made in 3 different places in Ohio. The original AMC factory burned down. Bill didn't rebuild it and had Alan Kingsbury in Lima Ohio start making AMC parts. At the same time, Alan decided to make parts for himself under the Kingsbury name. After a few years Bill had a family run machine shop back in Canal Fulton start making them. They made them till he took the brand back in Nov. 2001.

I used to work on these at AMC as well as build them for customers.

[oliver1850]

Looks like Hoshi bladed spokes. I have a few in a couple of different lengths. Also a couple of NOS Wolber Profil 18 rims.

[ColonelJLloyd]

What is the advantage of the headless spoke? One less step in manufacturing?

[GOTHBROOKS]

a bladed spoke wont fit through the hole

[oliver1850]

a bladed spoke wont fit through the hole

Well, they obviously will, just not the bladed part. I think what you meant was that the Hoshi spokes don't require a slotted hub flange as other bladed spokes do.

[denvervig]

It's an American Classic hub. It was made in Ohio. They did a few versions of the front hub. This was a 1-piece shell. They were made from bar stock and the flanges had a tendency to break cause the aluminum wasn't forged. So make sure to check the flanges well.

Also, they did a few different graphics for them- engraved, red/white/blue sticker, black sticker, stickers with the words American Classic, stickers with they the eagle logo. This is partly due to the hubs being made in 3 different places in Ohio. The original AMC factory burned down. Bill didn't rebuild it and had Alan Kingsbury in Lima Ohio start making AMC parts. At the same time, Alan decided to make parts for himself under the Kingsbury name. After a few years Bill had a family run machine shop back in Canal Fulton start making them. They made them till he took the brand back in Nov. 2001.

I used to work on these at AMC as well as build them for customers.

Thx! Good to know about the flange risk as I'm trying to figure what to do with this one. The hub spins nicely but the sealed bearing are not perfect.

[denvervig]

Looks like Hoshi bladed spokes. I have a few in a couple of different lengths. Also a couple of NOS Wolber Profil 18 rims.

I might be looking for a mate - are you looking to sell one?

[Velocipede]

Thx! Good to know about the flange risk as I'm trying to figure what to do with this one. The hub spins nicely but the sealed bearing are not perfect.

The bearings are pretty standard. I believe they were 6001 2RS on these. I'd have to look as I have a ton of cartridge bearings in the drawer. But they are readily available in steel, stainless, and ceramic versions.

Just keep an eye on the flange. Given how it's laced, properly and with a decent spoke, they might be ok for many years to come. Just depends. A lot of people who reversed the spoke lacing had failures of the flange. And Hoshi made a great spoke. Great Z-Bend. Just keep an eye on them. Something you can do is clean the hubs really well then take a Sharpie and color the flanges. You'll see any cracks or marks in them right away. And a Sharpie will come off with degreaser so it a good no destructive test I used to do.

[Velocipede]

What is the advantage of the headless spoke? One less step in manufacturing?

That was part of it. Plus they could be used easier as replacement spokes. It also help on the earlier hubs not being slotted. A bunch of companies didn't like that idea. Eventually they were ok with it but some companies still didn't offer it.

[Hindmost]

I've wondered that myself as BikePro used to be here in Santa Rosa. I stumbled on this the other day when buying something from BikeBling in Escondido:

BikeBling.com - 1-800-BIKEPRO is Bike Bling

Could it be?

Bike pro used to be right off the freeway on Cleveland. It seemed like they featured and stocked everything desirable.

[Tz779]

A mystery for the ages. The site is generally well written and factually accurate too.

I also wonder who updates the Sheldon Brown site. I use their gear calculator all the time and someone is totally updating the cassettes, which is amazing. All the way through AXS WIDE 10-36. It's really funny running gear numbers on a 2020 group on a site that is from the Angelfire era.

i think Harris Cycles in Boston does....

[Velocipede]

i think Harris Cycles in Boston does....

Correct. They announced some time ago they were going to continue the pages in honor of Sheldon.

[uno-speedo]

BikePro.com is still owned by Frank Savage now of iSickbay.