MTFCA Forum

Hello All,
Just curious when were inner tubes made in the USA?
I've owned my Model T for 16 years and just got my first flat. The process of R&R the tire went well. I was surprised when I removed the tube to see that it was stamped in blue MADE IN USA . I figure Previous owner replaced all the tires not long before I bought it. Corker tires. Were tubes being made in the US 16 years ago and by whom?
I'm pretty sure the leak in the tube is a bad valve, cracked at the bottom is there a method to replace the valve stem. Rubber is like new and better quality. Replacement tube made in China.

Your tube is an excellent candidate for a replacement original metal stem. There are posts on how to do this. Others will be able to point you to them.

Allan from down under.

Steve, Both text & photo show tube made in USA, Roadster John should be able to follow your useful procedure anyway. George

Both text & photo show tube made in USA...

Yes, of course. And the last sentence of the text is:

Replacement tube made in China.

I have a related question. I recently had a flat - crack in the valve stem on one side. Tire inflation was checked the day it happened. There was no evidence of a sudden loss of pressure --- I just found it flat when I went to the barn the next day. Any theories as to why this happened? My tire guy wondered if it wasn't rubbing against the edge of the tire itself. There isn't much space between the inner edges of the tire casing where it engages the rim.

It would be nice to know. It's funny, they just stopped making them. My guess is maybe Cooper made them?

Steve , Your inital response is what generated my reply.
"You didn't state the brand of your made-in-China tube, but I assume it's Hartford. I've been using Hartford tubes and they are fine. I am avoiding any more Custom Classic (India), which had a splitting problem."
George

Yes. John said, "Replacement tube made in China." and I commented on that, not his made-in-USA tube. I'm glad we got that straightened out.

FWIW, that printing on your US tube is the same as on my five 30 x 3-1/2 Goodyear, also made in USA, tubes. I bought them from a Goodyear vendor at a swap meet in the late '80s. I had been having nothing but trouble from my Universal tubes; the GY vendor said his tubes would end it. They did and I'm still using them.

I am nursing 30+ year old tubes in all my cars but one and some of them have 4 or more patches. They rarely require more air and when they do it is a pound or two. The one car that has new tubes is consistently losing air at the rate of 5 pounds or more per wheel per week. No wonder valve stems are failing. If you don't check your tire pressure almost daily with these lousy new tubes they will certainly wind up under inflated and cut valve stems.

Hello again,
Maybe my opening sentence should have been  
"Just curious but  when were inner tubes last manufactured in the USA?" Doesn't seem to be any answer. Possibly Goodyear but you'd think they'd put their Logo?
Yes Steve I did receive the Hartford labeled brand. Hope I do get good service. Also thanks for the link to valve repair. I'll have a replacement made in the good old USA

As far as my flat goes I had just aired all my tires to 60 psi. Then went back to the T's shed to tidy up. When I was finished I noticed the left rear flat! There was no warning.

John, before you tear into fixing the flat, air it up again and check that the valve core is not leaking. Sometimes they do not seat properly after being disturbed, and will let the tyre down. You have nothing to lose.

Allan from down under.

Val, if your new tubes don't hold air, they are not fit for purpose. Have you complained to the vendor? They need to know they are selling rubbish. It seems you need to consider replacing them with something that works as it should. The new Blockley tubes come with some recommendation.

Allan from down under.

Allen, that was my first thought when I saw it was flat. I installed the valve from the spare. Still went flat and as I was trying to fill tire I heard the air escaping inside the tire.
I've started looking for an original valve to replace the rubber valve.