Ok guys I scored a set of skyways tuff I's today they have the pat # on the side and on the inner it has #7 with some other #s on it cannot read them the back has # 38 I think . back has bendex coaster but they are very small plastic flange not metal flanged very similar to the new style flange just very small.. They are Red and are in very good shape.. I will post pics later my camera was dead.. Anyone got any ideas on how old these may be?? sorry for no pics right now.. THanks, SR

[ July 24, 2007, 10:44 PM: Message edited by: standardracer ]

around 1977, 78 or so for those.....

Thanks Ed those are way older than I am into anyone need these?? Pics soon

did they stamp the patent in them that early?

i have a '79 dated tuff 2 with no markings, yet. i also have a set of tuff 1s with no stampings that are from 77/78 and a set from 1980 that does have the stamps.

i was under the impression that the stampings (embossings) came partway thru 1979 and after tuff 2s came out.

I just came across a completely unstamped Tuff II. Even stranger is that the braking area is shorter than any other Tuff I've seen. It has the first gen steel flange in it.

that sounds like the one i have...

Another twist is that there are wheels with the stamping but no serial number. And, I'm not talking about rubbed off - just no no number. The stamping and the serial numbers seem to have come out separately.

got pics guys?

Here are three wheels that show the differences.



By my guess, I would put them in this order - oldest to newest:

1. The front square flange has no stamping at all and the braking area is thinner.
2. The front aluminum flange has the stamping in the braking area.
3. The rear coaster has the stamping on the rib connecting the spokes.

Here's some measurements:

Wheel 1:

Wheel 2:

Wheel 3:

Wheel 1 and 2 side-by-side:

New one to me, cool stuff.

Yeah, I just got the oddball wheel and did a double-take. Now I have a question: has anyone seen white Tuffs with the stamping in the braking area? I saw a pair with a cassette freewheel that had it on the rib area.

my first set of white tuff 2s had the stamp on the brake surface. those were early ones both with alloy hub flanges. my next set were mixed (plastic front, alloy rear) with the logo on the rib/webbed area.

i have another set of alloy/alloys now, but i'll have to dig them out to see which style they are later.