Vintage Paul Components W.O.R.D. Hub: Anodized Red, VERY Early Model 1990's NM

I was told this is the THIRD Paul WORD rear hub to come out of the factory!  I found this gem on a KHS Montana Team bike that was owned by a bicycle guru in Evergreen, CO.  The original owner was verified correct about other claims he made on this bike.  While I have no way to verify this as fact, I have only found one picture of this style hub on the internet (and it's a race team who claims they got it in 1996), and in catalog scans which are undated.  It's even possible this is a prototype!  This is a VERY rare hub!  Not even the MOMBAT Mountain Bike Museum has one, and they have everything!  It's a piece of mountain bike history worthy of a museum shelf or a show quality retro build.

This hub is drastically different than the current WORD model, which appears to have been unchanged for many years now.  The hub shell is sort of bullet shaped, with two distinct ridges in the center of the shell.  The shell is much thicker than the current model's.  The Paul logo is prominently displayed on a decal on the shell.  It still has the "Fancy Bolts" that come with the hubs today.

Condition

Near MINT, very lightly used condition!  The anodizing is practically perfect, with only a few very minor marks on the outsides of the flanges and hub ends.  Anodizing between the flanges is pristine, as is the decal.  Bearings are as buttery smooth as the day they left the factory, with zero play or drag.

Details

• Color: Ano red
•  Spacing: 135mm