Vintage-Sized Tubular Tires?

[RustySprockets]

I may soon have the opportunity to get an early 1930's Rollfast, slathered in housepaint, that still retains its original wooden--yet naked--wheels. Were I to re-build this bike for regular riding, I'd certainly replace those questionable rims with modern clinchers. BUT, what alternatives, if any, exist to fit the original items...even if it is just for display? Would any of the current herd of paste-ons actually do the job? I can't imagine that replacements for an 80-year-old tire is an easy off-the-shelf purchase. Surprise me!

 

[deorman]

This guy has 28" listed for 475 dollars!

https://www.bicycleheaven.org/colle...-bicycle-wood-wheel-tires-28-x-1-1-2-rare-new

 

[Duchess]

A lot of people would like to know this, including myself (just probably not enough of us for anyone to invest in making them). I believe there's a guy or a company called "Dean" or something that makes them "for display purposes only" and the prices are ridiculous, but even regular modern tubulars are ridiculously priced IMO and look the same on a vintage bike. I HEAR that the Dean or whoever tires are fine to ride anyway, but for the prices, I believe I shouldn't have to be thinking about that every time I get on the bike.

I went with wood clinchers for my 1912 Iver Racer, but would have preferred the more accurate tubulars if I could have gotten them (and for a reasonable price since I ride the bike fairly often).

 

[RustySprockets]

YIKES! I may have answered my own question, following a little research, but like you folks said, the prices are astronomical. The Richard Dean tires are supposedly authentic and hand-made. Jeez, he must weave them out of Rapunzel's hair! Another source, in Hershey, PA, has them for a far more "reasonable" $250 a pair. Oh-kay...

They say that necessity is a mother, so I have a few ideas how I might sidestep this need in a more economical way. I'll have to do some rooting around first. I things work out, I'll post the results here, that's for sure.

 

[Rustinkerer]

Most builders just use 700C rims, some even resemble the profile of the wood/clad rims. -Adam