OK, finally got out to the shed. My Mistral rims have basically the same sticker except:
(1) There is no Sturmey Archer text
(2) The word 'Mistral' is in black script on the white stripe.
(3) The rim size (700C) is in the red stripe and a model no (?) 217 is in the blue stripe
I also found a detailed history of Mistral rims in the book 'The Spaceframe Moultons' page 38
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=BK- ... e+moultons
Quick summary -
- Raleigh set up Aluminum rim production in Nottingham in 1978 using extrusions from SAPA-Tibshelf Derbyshire
- 1981 rim production transferred to Sturmey Archer and the rim named 'Mistral'
- Aug 1982 Raleigh shut down rim production (they had screwed their overseas suppliers down to a lower price), Keith Hutcheon buys dies and equipment and sets up in Nottingham as Mistral Rims Ltd
- According to this source the company only lasted a year as the British cycle industry failed to support it (what a surprise...)
I have a vague idea that all the equipment and dies were bought by Sun Rims and shipped off to the USA.
So looks like my rims date from the private company in 1982/83 and yours to the Sturmey period in 1981/82.
It was a great shame this company crashed as they produced great rims at a good price - all the bike shops were recommending them for touring at the time.
Cheers
Richard