Rims query 1950s Rudge Pathfinder (Lenton}

[marcos]

Hello bike enthusiasts out there, I'm seeking your opinions on a wheelset for a 1957 Rudge Pathfinder (Raleigh Lenton family). I thought I was all set with 40/32 26 x 1 1/4" Dunlop Special Lightweights but turns out my rear 40 is severely distorted, while the 32 is pretty good.
I wanted to use a new set of all white Kenda in this size i have (and i have a good stock of the black ones)
Do I:
a] buy a 40 hole Dunlop from the UK (expensive)?
b] buy a 40/32 new Sun Cr18 590 set (probably same final cost as "a"?
c] use the lovely early 80s alloy Araya 36/36 rims in 597/EA1 that i already have?
d] go and buy a set of kinlin 40/32 700c as i just used on my 51 clubman? also expensive from UK....and would fenders fit?
I know Brit bikes do not normally go 36 hole until the early 1970s. I am leaning toward option "a" I also have a decent supply of 590 EA3 tires besides the Kenda EA1 597s
Is there a Raleigh or similar front hub with 88-90mm OLN with 36 holes? All seem to be 32 in this measuremnt, the 36 holes all seem to be around 94mm (that i have seen)

 

[juvela]

-----

have not found the Raleigh-SA thirty-six hole fronts with eighty-nine OLD to be rare

will delightedly defer to our @SirMike1983 whenever he drops in...


-----

 

[SirMike1983]

The choice depends on what you want out of the re-build. If you're going for originality or "as close to original as possible", the 40-hole matching Dunlop is the way to go. If you're going for a "rider" bike and if your brakes will reach (a big "if" with older road brake calipers), a set of 590mm rims give you a wider set of tire options. If you want to keep your original hubs, the CR-18 is a good rim. If you don't care about the hubs, going 36/36 gives you a wider set of options in a 590mm rim (stainless, aluminum, steel are all options if you are willing to go over to 36/36).

So I can't give you one answer, but really the question is whether you're pushing to get as original as possible, versus a "rider" bike where the standards are a bit looser.

Do try to avoid the cheap-o rims steel rims from China, Taiwan, or India that come up online. The chrome is thin and the rims are kind of flimsy.