Generic off-brand hubs

[BiketoBasics]

I bought a set of wheels a number of years ago whose hubs were unbranded (see photo). They seem like decent quality. There are but a few hub manufacturers in the world. It seems that there must be a way to secure some of this type of unbranded hub (not neccessarily the one shown), from somewhere. Once a label goes onto something, the price goes way up. Why pay magnitudes more just for a label?

 

[BiketoBasics]

I think these were an unlabelled "Formula" hub. Considering these had press-in cartridge bearings, one wouldn't need to be concerned about the cone and race machining quality usually found in a lesser hub.

 

[pigman]

I'm sure when Shimano acquire and sell hubs, they don't just say to one of the manufacturers 'what you making at the moment? .... Ah those! ..... We'll have x000 of those and sticker them up as Shimano and sell at a massive premium. Meanwhile, we're ok with you continuing to sell them unbranded and undercut prices on eBay '.

Whilst there may be a limited number of hub manufacturers, Shimano will require them to be made to their design, to their quality tolerance and agree a budget. The theory is that you then pay a premium for known quality, with a reliable distribution network, with parts backup, some form of guarantee and an element of R&D for future products. And then there's overheads with running a multinational. Oh and an element of profit isn't unreasonable too

 

[LondonClassic]

I'm sure when Shimano acquire and sell hubs, they don't just say to one of the manufacturers 'what you making at the moment? .... Ah those! ..... We'll have x000 of those and sticker them up as Shimano and sell at a massive premium. Meanwhile, we're ok with you continuing to sell them unbranded and undercut prices on eBay '.

Whilst there may be a limited number of hub manufacturers, Shimano will require them to be made to their design, to their quality tolerance and agree a budget. The theory is that you then pay a premium for known quality, with a reliable distribution network, with parts backup, some form of guarantee and an element of R&D for future products. And then there's overheads with running a multinational. Oh and an element of profit isn't unreasonable too

Do you mean the 'non series' shimano hubs? Usually sold in batches to wheel builders and as OEM. I have often wondered if these were made by Formula to some basic, utlitarian spec. All the ones I've seen are cup and cone. Nothing wrong with that of course.

To the original question - I've had a set of wheels built around these for a decade and they're still making / selling them. They seem to be the same LF sealed bearing hubs but with more drillium.

 

[novocaine]

Shimano make their own hubs, they have a very very large factory (or 4) that do it.

other companies also make hubs, I suspect there maybe 50 to 60 world wide, but I have no way of knowing, I'm not in the trade and even then I doubt you'd find all of them.

there are some very large outifts, like Novatec/Joytech that make a massive amount for lots of companies to brand, they also make to specific designs for other companies. there are others that make for themselves, DT Swiss, Chris King, Zipp, etc.

Yours do look like Formulas, but they may also be Joytech.