Can anyone identify the brand of these early wire wheels? Several folks want to know. Fred

Both say "your image here" on my puter..

mine also

They are a pair of very rare "Yourimagehere" wheels, made in Yourimagehere, Michigan.

Vary astute observation Ed! Iv'e long coveted a set of those for my speedster. Imagine the odds of finding a matching pair in one spot. If only there were a full set.

If at first....

Fred
Are these the wheels your talking about??



Ron the Coilman

Yep, that's them! Thanks again Ron. Fred.

Okay, Ron (and Fred), let's see the rest of the car.

Am I supposed to do the research myself? Or is Ron going to tell the rest of us on the forum what type of wheel this is?

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/178260.html?1293063137

The car in the photo is a CarNation. I doubt they made there own wheels.

From Wikipedia we learn:

WHEELS & TIRES
Wheels
Detachable Detroit Stanweld wire

Front/rear
30 x 3 inches

Wow! Jerry, many thanks! Fred

Thanks Jerry, Very interesting.

Those are great looking wheels. And I hate to be the "wet blanket", but 40 spokes seem a little light for a heavier car like a T with two passengers. (Heavy wire welded spoke wheels don't count.) Spoke count and pattern is very important, especially if you are going to be one of the crazies that likes to drive at higher speeds (like me).
Any comments from people running wire wheels? How many spokes are in each of your wheels? 48 to 60 seem to be the common range for a T. Over 70 spokes are often found on larger cars.
Despite some of my postings indicating the contrary, I am concerned about safety. Those wheels look so good, though. I would run them.
Just drive really carefully, W2

Wayne
I know nothing about wire wheels other than they go round, but I had the same impression. Three lug bolts?
Perhaps this was OK for a 1914 Kar Nation which appears to be a very small/light vehicle.
Ron the Coilman

Ash wire wheels have 3 lug bolts and I have seen them perform just fine under an SR Fronty that was a great runner and driven by a guy with a lead foot.
1926-27 Hayes wire wheels with 21" tires only have 36 spokes and they were designed for a heavier than average Model T.
The real issue is that some wire wheels, like wood wheels, have suffered badly over the years. Yes that includes what some "restorers" have done/not done and the quality of some reproductions.

Some Disteel Wheels were 3 lug. They're not wire wheels but I can't see where that would make a difference.

If the outboard portion of the wheel centers are snug on the axle hubs then the load should be distributed enough that the 3 lugs are ok.




Our Speedster had the #4 Houks mounted on T wood wheel hubs with six bolts, and that bothered me, so I got proper Houk hubs and adapted them to T hubs



These 16" wheels are 1937 Austin, Aaron said.

rdr

Three points determine a plane.

I guess you are S.O.L. if you lose one lug nut or stud.

Maybe that's why the minimum "standard" the world over, became four.

The car is a 1917 Laurel Special Deluxe Speedster. No Gentleman's garage is complete without one. So says Robert M. Roof. Both the car and the engine were designed by Robert. Sixteen valve Roof Type A head which uses all the ports in the Model T Block as intake ports for the Overhead. Runs great. Grandson James Roof is my riding mechanic at Winchester. James still lives today in Anderson, IN.

One more photo of the engine.

Fred,
Very nice looking car! How fast have you driven it? (Or do you not want too many people to know that?)

I wouldn't worry about the three lugs or locking pins as long as the hub provides other support. That 16 inch wheel looks stout enough. But the leverage and stress is greater the further out you go (and those numbers work to the tread of the tire, not the rim. The bulkier the tire, the more strength and rigidity the tire provides.

If I remember correctly, at one of the Calistoga Classics dirt oval races about 40 years ago, someone had a set of wire wheels on his race car. He broke a few spokes and nearly folded one wheel.
Your 40 spoke wheels are probably okay to use. But I would like to hear from others with more experience than I have with wire wheels.
Happy Holidays, and drive carefully, W2