Early Straight Pull, Flangeless hub set. Likely Pierce or Stearns

[locomotion]

anyone have pictures of these exact hubs spoked to a wheel?
need to see the pattern and if possible approximate spoke lenght you have running on both the front and rear wheel
also a picture of the spoke head would be helpful so we can find spokes and modify them to fit in
front is 32 and rear is 36
thanks

 

[David Brown]

Hi Max
When I did my Pierce bikes i just put the hook for the spokes in a vice and flattened the end to make a T shape. then just put the spokes i side ways and turned them inline with the wheel and they worked fine. Just try an old spoke and you will see thats going to work.
Dave

 

[tim elder]

I used to buy straight pull spokes and crush the head in a vice like Dave said and they will work just fine for those hubs. Tim

 

[locomotion]

I used to buy straight pull spokes and crush the head in a vice like Dave said and they will work just fine for those hubs. TimView attachment 1450153

View attachment 1450153

Where did you buy straight pull spokes?

 

[tim elder]

Local bike shop stocked them but you can order online, just google "straight pull bicycle spokes".

 

[PapaPengin]

Does anyone happen to know what length is needed?

 

[dnc1]

That would depend on the 'ERD' calculation of whatever rims you're using, the hub dimensions and the spoking pattern being used.
Although you would have to calculate the 'flange diameter' of these hubs too; not too difficult to do I guess.

I often build wheels using antique wood racing rims and you may be surprised to know that they can vary in circumference by up to 1/2 inch or so.

This doesn't sound like much, but it can mean that spokes may not be quite the correct length on assembly if both front and rear hubs have the same flange sizes and 'OLD' dimensions.
This could result in spokes protruding through the top of the nipples; easily solved by filing down, but unnecessarily time consuming.

 

[dnc1]

Does anyone happen to know what length is needed?

That would depend on the 'ERD' calculation of whatever rims you're using, the hub dimensions and the spoking pattern being used.
Although you would have to calculate the 'flange diameter' of these hubs too; not too difficult to do I guess.

I often build wheels using antique wood racing rims and you may be surprised to know that they can vary in circumference by up to 1/2 inch or so.

This doesn't sound like much, but it can mean that spokes may not be quite the correct length on assembly if both front and rear hubs have the same flange sizes and 'OLD' dimensions.
This could result in spokes protruding through the top of the nipples; easily solved by filing down, but unnecessarily time consuming.

 

[Billythekid]

Nice I thought you had to find ballend spokes good to know you can modify straight pull spokes thanks for that