A flexible belt is disclosed which includes a major segment and at least one narrow minor segment, the narrow minor segment extending from one end of the belt to the opposite end and being more extendible than the major segment when subjected to an externally applied tension. This belt may be a component of a composite cylindrical device including a rigid drum substrate supporting the flexible belt in a stretched condition. The composite cylindrical device may be fabricated by providing a preformed rigid cylindrical support drum having a predetermined outer circumference, a first end and a second end, providing a flexible belt having an outer surface and an inner surface circumference of at least about 0.05 percent smaller than the outer circumference of the support drum, the belt including a major segment and at least one narrow minor segment, the narrow minor segment extending from one end of the belt to the opposite end and being more extendible than the major segment under the same applied tension, circumferentially expanding the belt with a flowing fluid under pressure until the inner surface circumference of the belt adjacent the first end is stretched to a new dimension of at least about 0.1 percent greater than the outer circumference of the support drum while maintaining the belt below the elastic limit of the belt, sliding the belt onto the support drum from the first end toward the second end of the support drum until substantially all of the belt encircles the outer surface of the support drum, and terminating the flow of the flowing liquid to allow the belt to contract onto the outer surface of the support drum.