Need a little help. Does anyone know the year or years that this type of wheel was used? I have seen many round fellow wooden wheels, but this one has a 6-inch rear hub, non-demountable style, and has a square cut fellow with oval shaped spokes.
Thanks
Square felloe wheels supposedly started appearing in early 1918.
A 30x3 square felloe wheel is a front wheel so a rear hub would not be correct for the wheel.
All of the Ford 30x3 and 30.5 square felloe wheels I have seen including those in my parts inventory have round spokes, not oval spokes.
Whoops - last sentence should read:
All of the Ford 30x3 and 30x3.5 square felloe wheels I have seen including those in my parts inventory have round spokes, not oval spokes.
Ford never used a 30X3 wheel on the rear of the Model T. But back in the day owners often would swap wheels so all four would be the same size. One guy ends up with all 30 X 3 1/2, the other guy ends up with all 30 X 3.
Thanks guys. They are round spokes and 3.5" rim. I mistakenly measured a Brush wheel (28x3) and wrote it down on the T list. A senior moment.
Thanks again.
From the encyclopedia:
The felloes were changed to “square” instead of being rounded, apparently in late 1917 or early 1918 according to a letter dated April 16, 1918 at the Ford Archives.
The wooden felloes were no longer rounded between the spokes (the so-called “square felloe” wheels). Initially, apparently, the felloe was truly “square” but the edges were given a 1/16” radius after a short time.
Demountable rims available as standard equipment on the closed cars (coupe and sedan), using 30 x 3-1/2 tires all around. Hayes, Kelsey, and Ford supplied wheels, so there were variations in the style. The rims were zinc plated. Non-demountable wheels continued as standard equipment on the open cars. The demountable- rim wheels were later offered as an option on the open cars. Non-demountable wheels no longer had the steel tubing around the valve-stem hole. Beginning in 1919, front wheel bearings were changed to Timkin roller on trucks and, later, closed cars. By 1920 they were standard on all cars with In 1920 the wooden felloes were replaced with steel, and wheels could then be supplied without hubs. (The wood-felloe wheels tended to warp when there was no hub in place.) On July 14, 1921 the shape of the spokes was specified as being round instead of oval in cross section. 30 x 3 tires were used in front when the car had the standard (non-demountable) wheels.
Non-demountable front wheels which used 30 by 3” tires were apparently dished throughout production. Wheels which used 30 by 3-1/2” tires (demountables and 1926 non-demountables) appear to have not been dished.
During 1920 a new non-demountable wheel, made by Hayes, apparently, began to be used. The felloe and rim of this wheel was one piece steel instead of the wooden felloe and steel rim assembly. For the first time Ford began supplying replacement non-demountable wheels without hubs, made possible by the stability of the steel rim-felloe design. (Demountable wheels all had steel felloes.)
About 1921 the spokes on the non-demountable wheels were made a bit heavier, and this design continued until 1926.
Hi Steve,
The last part about all demountable wheels having steel felloes is a little misleading. When I read that originally, in the Encyclopedia, I took it at face value. However, I was corrected in another thread when I said the same thing. Apparently, there were (and still are) some early demountables with wood felloes. Some of these wheels also had 5 lugs instead of the typical 4 lugs. I do believe that by 1920, all demountables had steel felloes and 4 lugs.
I just want others to avoid the same misconceptions that I had.
It seems to me I remember seeing an original non starter 1925 roadster once with 30x3 front wheels.
Eric,
It is not misleading at all.
Ford never supplied any demountable wood felloe wheels. The encyclopedia is correct.
Firestone made accessory wood felloe demountable wheels - not just for Model T - beginning as early as the 19 - teens. They were never a Ford supplied option or available from Ford under any circumstances.
Hi Royce,
Thanks for the clarification. Of course, when I was told of the the wood felloe demountables, none of this additional information was provided. But there were pics posted of these rims on Ts. It seems that the whole story is scattered about in bits and pieces in different people's recollections. It really makes appreciate the work that Boggess, McCalley and others have done in getting some of this history into print.
Eric,
Bits and pieces is how all the facts about model Ts have been gathered. When I got into this hobby over 45 years ago, most of what was "known" was from someone's memory, and most of it faulty. A lot more correct information is known today than was then.
There were several companies that made demountable wood felly wheels for Fords and many other marques of cars. Perlman and Firestone were two of the largest names. I am not sure when they started coming out, but I am fairly sure at least by 1913. They continued to be available at least into the early '20s.
Many years ago, I saw some photos that Lorin Sorensen had showing brand new 1926 model T Fords with non-demountable wheels. They clearly had 30 X 3 front tires and 30 X 3.5 rear tires. They also appeared to be square wood felloes.
Some years ago, I also had a very rusty and marginally bad wood pair of wheels. It appeared that they were both untouched from original. They were both rear 30 X 3.5 with '26 large brake drums. I often wish I still had them. It seems that more and more people are convinced that wood felly non-demountables were not built that late. I've seen good evidence that they were. I just wish I had it to show.
I am seriously considering putting together a set of square wood felly non-demountable wheels to put on my 1919 boat-tail. They would actually be more correct than the demountable wheels it now has. It does't have a good way to carry a mounted spare anyway.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Wood felloe non - demountable wheels in size 30 X 3 front and 30 X 3 1/2 rear were standard on cars not equipped with starter / battery and generator in 1926. This is well documented.