Fast Fact – SA three speed hub

When the first SA three speed hub was designed, due to the complicated shape of the hub ‘barrel’ [ which featured a little box with hinged access door] the designers actually made the hub flanges more of a figure of eight shape rather than round.  I guess it was just too obvious to be obvious.

This was a wheelbuilders Nightmare requiring a few different spoke lengths. The Dursley Pederson was one bike that these hubs were found on and Lorne Shields the famous Canadian collector has one in his extensive collection; unusual in the fact that he specialises in [mostly] pre 1900 stuff.

More info over on Wikipedia