possum-magic wrote:I'm not sure to be honest. I have seen another old Malvern Star around the traps here with the same rim colour scheme, so either one of the local bike dealers of the time was customising them like this, or they came standard in this colour. I've checked out the rims and they certainly weren't chromed underneath the paint. The inside of the rims (where the rim tape goes) is all painted white.
On the topic of rims and tyre sizes, I'm going loopy trying to establish what size tyres to buy as replacements for the clapped out old ones. The old ones are marked 28 x 1 3/8, which I understand was a common wheel size in Australia years ago. From what I can gather, this is equivalent to an ISO 37-642 (the old 700A). There are some sites that claim they'll take a 700C (ISO 622) tyre. I've not tried it yet.
Basically, I'm wanting to get some white walls if I can, but until I get to the bottom of the tyre size issue, can't go shopping!
Hmmm thanks for that... I might stick with my plan to paint them then
As for sizes, I've seen both 28 x 1 3/8 and 28 x 1 1/2 tyres available on eBay, and I'm pretty sure Warren said he can also sell them.
I have both size rims here to restore, and the 28 x 1/2 ones look like what's on yours there, but they're definitely wider than the 28 x 1 3/8 rims and they don't have a side wall as such that you could put a caliper type brake on. I just went and checked to be sure I'm not speaking out of my butt and you can just measure the width of the rim to be sure. Mine both measure 1 3/8 and 1 1/2 exactly.
Oh, and as for the mudguard mount length you gave me (360mm), mine are 370mm... so looks like the ladies bikes may have had a slightly longer rake...
