Full width hubs, painted or not?

A 1957 would have had a full-width alloy hub and matching brake plate unpainted and lightly polished.  Your correct in thinking that the much earlier half steel and half alloy hub had the steel portion painted.  I'm not certain that the brake plate and flange were polished or not.  Other people will contribute and let you know.   Good luck, Howard

The wheels, forks and frame (+ tank)  came together, minus those famous engine plates, a set I also donated to the club.(Thanks Ian R, down under, for having them perfectly made)

In my view and experience, Howard is correct.

I do have the earlier Hub, it was the last job the late Les Wylde ever vapour blasted.

Peace on Earth everyone.

PS: Silencer from an earlier bike and a 1959 engine. + 56 Dommie front mudguard 

is different, based on the iron 'half width' hub.  It arrived at the end of 1954 (for 1955 model-year bikes) and was replaced by the all-alloy hub some time in early 1957, so may be original to your machine.

The alloy casting was polished on the left face and spoke flange left bare, but I think they originally had the iron drum and the fins on the alloy part painted silver.  Mine was repainted before I got mine so I can't be certain at all. Take a look at the photo of the 1956 or '7 f'bed Inter in the NOC Forum header, it looks 'right' to me. The brake plate is common to the 8" half-width iron hub and was polished.

The later all-alloy hub is much lighter, and has a more-oval cam profile for better leverage, etc. The brake plate is entirely new and has a different water exclusion method - no interlocking ribs, just a step to keep water out. But it does use the same brake shoes as all the later sls Norton front brakes.