1901 Cleveland rim paint details.

[rusty_apache]

So I solved my mismatched rim problem with the Cleveland by acquiring another one with an identical flat profile and removed a steel rod that had been driven through the finger joint.
I have discovered that Cleveland painted the rims black with a Cleveland blue stripe down the center line of he rim.

My current dilemma is how wide to make the blue center stripe. I hate to just guess at it.
I intend to clear coat it first so the paint will not penetrate the wood grain in case a future owner wants to go with a natural grain look.

 

[rusty_apache]

I might be screwing up in assuming that the flatter profile rim is the original just because it would have to have been relaced to the chainless hub. Whereas the front wheel with the more common standard profile rim could have been more easily swapped out without any lacing.
Maybe some Cleveland owners could chime in with profile information on their original rims.


Well I finally found this....
Here....

How to Paint Stripes on Wood Rims with Zero Skills | Bicycle Restoration Tips

Most restored or new wood rims are finished as plain wood with varnish. They look great but I feel that something has been lost in the process. Back in the day, bikes could be ordered with all kinds of fancy stripes painted under the varnish. Here are two pages from the 1918 CCM catalogue...

thecabe.com

Cleveland used the #16 pattern in 1912 and in 1902 they were the same without the gold dividing pinstripes. So I am going to extend the blue stripe about 1/16th of an inch beyond the outboard spoke holes and call it a day.

 

[rusty_apache]

Further progress....

[A

TT

AC

H=

full]1143860[/ATTACH]

Cleveland blue stripe with spokes blued to the first intersection.

I left a few flaws in the paint because they looked appropriate for a 119 year old wheel and I can point to them when onlookers don’t believe they are wooden.