How old are my skyways

[delbert]

Hey all,

I was wondering if anyone could help me, I have been lucky enough to pick up some old skyway Tuffs and I was wondering how old they may be.

The wheels have come from the USA, I purchased them last year and they have only just been delivered, omg.

The front wheel.
- riveted steel hub with just Skyway stamped on it something like the alloy hub but flatter in profile, and squarer, i.e. the hub flanges are more square than the Alloy hubs on my other wheels.
- there are no patent markings or imbossed logos.
- There is a serial number "No _052618" the Underscore is as it is on the wheel.
- The brake areas is smaller/narrower than my stamped Tuff IIs

The rear wheel.
This is very much the same as the front other than it has a factory fitted coaster brake and there apears to be no serial number, there is NO stamped on it but no sign of a number afterwards, actually it does not even look like it may have rubbed off.

So any experts out there like to guess the age?

Regards
Simon

[meticulous]

best get some pictures up so we know exactly what you mean, steel hubbed skyways are very late seventies-very early eighties until about 1982 when ally hubb's came out...

[pickle]

On my old steel hubbed tuffs they had the year painted on the inside of the rim, mine were 78 

[delbert]

On my old steel hubbed tuffs they had the year painted on the inside of the rim, mine were 78 

Thanks guys, unfortunately there are no date marking inside the rim ;-(
Pics now added

[sweetbeats]

Does it really matter?
Late 70's Early 80's 

[delbert]

Does it really matter?
Late 70's Early 80's 

To me it makes a huge difference if thease are 1980s and one is building a 70s bike.

[sweetbeats]

Shouldn't you have checked before hand if it matters that much?

[MartyC]

Does it really matter?
Late 70's Early 80's 

To me it makes a huge difference if thease are 1980s and one is building a 70s bike.

Shouldn't you have checked before hand if it matters that much?

Now, now boys and girls

Steel hubs are from late 78 through to late 82 early 83 so would be perfect for a late 70's build.  If an earlier 70's build you might want Tuff 1's, Moza has a set of blue ones he has just picked up 

[sweetbeats]

Does it really matter?
Late 70's Early 80's 

To me it makes a huge difference if thease are 1980s and one is building a 70s bike.

Shouldn't you have checked before hand if it matters that much?

Now, now boys and girls

Steel hubs are from late 78 through to late 82 early 83 so would be perfect for a late 70's build.  If an earlier 70's build you might want Tuff 1's, Moza has a set of blue ones he has just picked up 

Alright Marty send us some sushine squire NOS if possible 

[MartyC]

Alright Marty send us some sushine squire NOS if possible 

Will box some up and send it over 

[delbert]

Afternoon

Thanks for the helpful replies chaps.

The main reason I am trying to identity how old these wheels are is because I need to find out which manufacture made my coaster brake as the shoes have been lost and I need to locate some replacements.

[58 delray]

Does it really matter?
Late 70's Early 80's 

To me it makes a huge difference if thease are 1980s and one is building a 70s bike.

Shouldn't you have checked before hand if it matters that much?

Now, now boys and girls

Steel hubs are from late 78 through to late 82 early 83 so would be perfect for a late 70's build.  If an earlier 70's build you might want Tuff 1's, Moza has a set of blue ones he has just picked up 

i thought steel hubs were Tuff 1s ?

[Moza]

Does it really matter?
Late 70's Early 80's 

To me it makes a huge difference if thease are 1980s and one is building a 70s bike.

Shouldn't you have checked before hand if it matters that much?

Now, now boys and girls

Steel hubs are from late 78 through to late 82 early 83 so would be perfect for a late 70's build.  If an earlier 70's build you might want Tuff 1's, Moza has a set of blue ones he has just picked up 

i thought steel hubs were Tuff 1s ?

Ive got tuff ones and they are plastic centres. Look here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=163190&id=702209436&l=c8d13709e6.

[Moza]

Oh yeah someone needs to take mine off my hands they cant be used on a rider !!!!!!!!!!!

[MartyC]

i thought steel hubs were Tuff 1s ?

Check out Maurice Meyer's site for details....

http://mauricemeyer.net/cgi/mm.pl?datafile=../general/BMX.txt&page=BMX/History%20of%20Skyway%20Tuff%20Wheels

[sweetbeats]

Alright Marty send us some sushine squire NOS if possible 

Will box some up and send it over 

Cheers Bud...can you pack this batch of rays a lot better?
The last lot arrived all bust up 

[GavinKent]

Tuff I (Unstamped) 1974-77      
Tuff I (Stamped) 1977-79      
Tuff II (Steel Hubs) 1979-82      
Tuff II (Alloy Hubs) 1982-85      
Tuff II (Rear Alloy Hub Front Plastic Hub loose ball) 1985-86
Tuff II (All plastic hubs loose ball) 1986-??   

[Moza]

mine are 77-79 then and need to be changed for some alloy hubs

[Rodgy1970]

Afternoon

Thanks for the helpful replies chaps.

The main reason I am trying to identity how old these wheels are is because I need to find out which manufacture made my coaster brake as the shoes have been lost and I need to locate some replacements.

AFAIK

Tuff 1 - Bendix
Tuff 2 - Suntour