I just purchased a set of aftermarket wheels for a Model T (??) and wondered if anyone knows anything about them. Although the outer part of the front hub has a different shape, it takes the same Timken bearings that T hubs take. The felloes are steel not wood, the spokes are wood and it appears the outer rims spread to release the felloes so you take off the rim. There is no name brand I can see. Both accept 30 x 3 1/2 tires.
Never seen these before. Any thoughts?
These appear to work just as Michelin racing demountable rims worked in the years 1912 and 1913. The rim stretches the tire so the diameter will increase enough to get the rim on/off the wheel. I had a discussion with an owner of Michelin rims as to whether they were still usable since the manufacture of tires has changed to nylon cord and a large part synthetic rubber rather than cotton cord and all natural rubber. Our concern was that modern clincher tires are not pliable enough to stand mounting on a collapsed rim, inflating to running pressure, stretching to large enough diameter to get on the wheel then collapsing the rim diameter to hold it on the wheel. There is a story about one of that periods famous race drivers that said he could not stand to be in the pits when the crew was mounting tires. After the tire was inflated and the as the rim was being expanded large enough to go on a wheel, he could hear the cords in the tire ripping and knew his life would be riding on those tires!
I just found a stamping on the rim. Kelsey Wheel Co, Patent 2-23-15, No. 90.
Anyone ever seen this type before?
Kelsey No.90 from their catalog are straight side rims used on Jewett and Studebaker in 1920s. Perhaps they recycled the number or it is poorly stamped?
Layden beat me to it, the front hub looks like Studebaker to me (except I would have said 'teens).
Thank you for the information. I purchased them on eBay because the two fronts on the 1919 I purchased were nondemountable with steel felloes and I wanted the rears to match.
I didn't realize the wheels were just a different type of demountable wheels. None the less, I am happy about the original condition and may use all four on the 1919. I don't think I'll expand the rims but will mount tires just as if they were nondemountable.
I am just hoping they fit a T. I'll try them on a rear axle and front spindle to see for sure.
Thanks for the info from two good old California boys.
Richard, I have a set of late non-demountable clinchers, and have no plans for them.
rdr