1935 16 inch 40 spoke wheel help

[Bill in SoCal]

Hi, I usually hangout on the Model A forum, but today I was reading a post about 16 inch wheels. I remembered that Ford wheels had 32 spokes, Motor had 36 spokes and Kelsey Hayes had 40 spokes, and I have two 1935 40 spoke 5 x 5.5 wheels listed on eBay. After reading the post, I realized that my wheels did not have 'double cross' spokes. Fortunately, I was able to remove the Kelsey Hayes title from the listing. The wheels came on my Model A Ford when I bought it in 1968. I am on this forum hoping someone can tell what I have (picture attached).

 

[Lawson Cox]

Can't see the center too well, but I would say they are probably Chevy or maybe Chrysler. I'm just taking a wag at it.

 

[deuce lover]

I saw those on EBAY and look puzzling,They appear made up since especially that the outer row on the rim are at the edge.Post close up pics,front and back.

 

[Bill in SoCal]

Here are some more pictures. The wheel fits the early Ford lug pattern without modification. The spokes go through the hub but are welded to the rim. While it has 40 spokes it is not Kelsey Hayes, and of course both Ford and Motor had less spokes. Now that I see the difference between my wheel and the Kelsey Hayes wheel, I see a lot of them. Somebody made a lot of them, but who? Did other auto makers have the same hub pattern as the 1935 Ford? Could this type of wheel been made for the 1935 Lincoln?

 

[deuce lover]

For some reason your pics come out postage stamp size. On a Kelsey & Motor Rim & Wheel the spokes are threaded thru a hole in the hub then attached to the rim.Spokes on Ford wheels are welded to hub and rim.The hub on yours appear to be Fords due to the recess on the back side but can't tell from your pics if the spokes are threaded thru from the inside.If so then the hubs are the 40 spoke Kelsey.Then in that case someone jigged them up w/a smooth rim and welded the spokes to the rim and altered the lacing pattern.Chrysler also had the same bolt pattern but hub was of a different design(flat surface on back).Lincoln had a much larger and heavier rim.Do your wheels spin true when spun up on a hub or balance machine?

 

[deuce5wndw]

Bill I can't help on the ID but I have a pair just like them. I don't know any history on the pair I have, they came in a large collection of 32 parts I bought. Dale.

 

[DavidG]

They're not Lincoln wheels as those have a rolled section on both the inner and outer edges of the rim.

 

[Bill in SoCal]

Here are some larger pictures - I hope

 

[Bill in SoCal]

Do your wheels spin true when spun up on a hub or balance machine?

I don't know, but they were on my 1930 Model A coupe. I notices nothing unusual while driving at various speeds and had no unusual tire wear. Bill

 

[deuce lover]

I would take one to Bill at the Early Ford Store in San Dimas and see what he thinks.

 

[David J]

They are kinda like the wheels on my 33 Plymouth but those are 17" and have bent spokes riveted on both ends . They also have the flat lip described above and the center is 2 pieces riveted together . Any stamped markings on them ?

 

[Randy in ca]

The inside mounting area on your rims are totally different than the Ford ones, and it appears they've been abnormally wearing against the 5 inner raised parts on the Ford hubs. Also to me many of spoke welds appear kind of sloppy to be factory(?). A made-up wheel(?).

 

[Bill in SoCal]

The inside mounting area on your rims are totally different than the Ford ones, and it appears they've been abnormally wearing against the 5 inner raised parts on the Ford hubs. Also to me many of spoke welds appear kind of sloppy to be factory(?). A made-up wheel(?).

Hi Randy,
You have a beautiful Ford wheel. You are right about the welding - Ford welds are much nicer. The inner hub does look different. Look at the picture of the Ford wheel that came off the same car. The inner wear pattern looks about the same. The wear pattern outside the raised portion of lug holes looks different, but the unknown wheel has an 1/8 inch ridge completely circling the outside of the lug holes that handles that spacing, as seen in the picture. Looks like it might have been made to fit Ford drums. Now that I can recognize the difference in the wheel, I see a lot more of them. I think this type of wheel was made up but too many to be custom made. This might have been a cheap attempt to copy the look of a Kelsey Hayes wheel. Bill

 

[Lawson Cox]

The inside mounting area on your rims are totally different than the Ford ones, and it appears they've been abnormally wearing against the 5 inner raised parts on the Ford hubs. Also to me many of spoke welds appear kind of sloppy to be factory(?). A made-up wheel(?).

Hi Randy,
You have a beautiful Ford wheel. You are right about the welding - Ford welds are much nicer. The inner hub does look different. Look at the picture of the Ford wheel that came off the same car. The inner wear pattern looks about the same. The wear pattern outside the raised portion of lug holes looks different, but the unknown wheel has an 1/8 inch ridge completely circling the outside of the lug holes that handles that spacing, as seen in the picture. Looks like it might have been made to fit Ford drums. Now that I can recognize the difference in the wheel, I see a lot more of them. I think this type of wheel was made up but too many to be custom made. This might have been a cheap attempt to copy the look of a Kelsey Hayes wheel. Bill

The wierd center opening shows they are not Ford. The center hole is round on Ford wheels & Kelsey Hayes. I beleive they are Budd wheels.