Is it a common thing for ten speed bikes to use the skip tooth design on the biggest diameter sprockets? My "new" ten speed is a common Western Flyer and it has them on the larger front and two largest rears. :?:
By newer you mean late 60's/early 70's I bet. I had a Shimano 333 freewheel just like that. It helped to smooth shifting before they figured out ramps and pins.