MTFCA Forum

Hi All,
Sorry to ask a question that was already asked. What color were the wood spokes when they came off the assembly line for a black 26 or 27 tudor and/or touring? Were they wood with lacquer clear coating? I see lots of them with beautiful wood. I've seen restorations with red, yellow, green and black wood spokes. I prefer the black ones. From the many original photos of T's, it looks like none had clear wood. What's the opinion of you all?
Thanks,
John

Original wood wheels were black until in '25, when natural wheels became available as an option from Ford.

After market colors

While "natural" wheels became an option in 26-27, they are primarily a modern fad. Before 1926 all wheels were painted body color (black 1913-1925). In 26-27 the stock wood wheels remained black. I believe that's what you'll see in most period photos (not advertising) of Fords with wood wheels. I believe I've seen "natural" wheels in 26-27 advertising, but even there the wheels are usually black.

1925

24-25

26-27

1926

Natural 21" wheels were listed in the 1925 Ford Price List of Parts, Steve.

That's a cool "advertiser" for sure, Dan !

This is one of the two real-world period photos I've seen showing the 26-27 varnished wheels on a car. I wonder if anybody can find some more. Is this the new owner showing off his spiffy new Ford in front of the dealership, or a salesman?


Here's a previous discussion with the same photo.
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/82 ... 1545720468

To the best of my knowledge, all wood wheeled cars came from the factory painted black.

If I recall correctly Ford produced natural wheels and sent them to dealers unpainted for service work. Adding clear varnish and putting them on a car as sets might have just been been cute?

I for one think a varnish of the era would have been lucky to last barely a few months...and feel that a finish closer to tongue oil would have been used in use as the preferred finish.

I normally don't criss cross clubs...but if someone checked the MTFCI judging guidelines there might be a comment in there.

For what it's worth now that I have a stable....

When my first T arrived it had painted wheels and overpainted ones at that with other overpaint and decided that clear looked better and more impressive. Had them dipped, had them neutralized in a bath...had them baked and then boiled linseed coated with several coats. 40 years later they still look brand new!

My in between purchases were teens so all black came and stayed that way

I then got the Hack and it came with tired au natural wheels. I used them for a while, then decided to paint the rims as were needed redoing so that was a coat of silver top coated with smoke...and while at it the wheels changed to a high bodied black on the felloe and hub...medium body black on the spokes as personal choice wanted some grain to show thru. (Photo above)

Your own choice is all that counts at the end of the day...............

Thanks Steve: Brought it years ago for the wheel, 30x3 round wood fellow, oval spoke. Could not part it out! Now it just sits in shop. Another memory of a good trip to Hershey. Dan.

I KNEW A GUY THAT HAD A 15 TOURING AND HE PAINTED THE WHEELS BLUE, HE HAD A AWFUL TIME WITH EVERY ONE TELLING HIM IT WAS WRONG---WELL FORD DID PAINT WHEELS BLUE IN 15-- HE SHOWED ME THE PROOF. BECAUSE I WAS ONE THAT THOUGHT HE WAS WRONG TOO. I KINDA LIKE THE NATURAL WHEEL ON CERTAIN BODY STILES, ROADSTERS--TOURING CARS,----- COUPS -PICKUPS-SEDANS BLACK TO ME SEEMS RIGHT,- BLUE,- STILL CORRECT OR NOT STILL LOOKS OUT OF PLACE.

Another new Touring, sport model in 1926 in dealer showroom.

Just like today, the dealers present the most beautiful or optioned out cars to draw in customers. They know what the customer likes the best, and sell that high end model.

Many didn't go for the 'beauty' T of the day, but a lot did as marketing of features was done by all the other mfg. and in 1926 natural wood finish on spoke wheels was the In Thing. You were driving the Cat's Meow if your new T sported tan top cover, windwings, and those beautiful varnished wood spoke wheels, that glimmered like a Gar Wood fast craft.

I wonder if folks looked at wood spokes the way we do now. Modern spectators looking at an old car now seem kinda shocked at the idea that wheels might ever have been entrusted to wood construction. Back in the day it seemed natural because wood was what all wheels had always been. Also, much of the everyday building material that everything was made from was wood & only really high end woods would have been considered beautiful.

Its a matter of perspective.

[quote="George Mills" post
To the best of my knowledge, all wood wheeled cars came from the factory painted black.

If I recall correctly Ford produced natural wheels and sent them to dealers unpainted for service work. Adding clear varnish and putting them on a car as sets might have just been been cute?

I for one think a varnish of the era would have been lucky to last barely a few months...and feel that a finish closer to tongue oil would have been used in use as the preferred finish.
[/quote]



George.
Ford offered factory varnish wheels, these were offered to dealers, and were factory installed at Branch assembly plant on cars to dealer orders too.
Check the Ford Parts and Price lists. (Aug 1, 1926) as follows: #2801E Front, natural balloon; #2814M Rear, natural, balloon 8"drum (for the '25 ) #2814M2 Rear, natural, balloon 11" drum ('26-'27)


NOS crated natural, balloon wheel, for dealer shipment if ordered by dealer to replace painted spoke wheel for customer desires. 75 years of storage in who knows what environment and these varnished spokes could use a re-finishing.

Our October 1926 coupe had black wood spokes. So, that is what we are going back too. Again, as being assembled in New Orleans mostly for export to South America, it was probably a cheap build.

I have always believed the natural wheels were a dealer installed option only, and only on the 21" wheels.

I am about to do a set of wheels natural wood color spokes. Anyone with a varnishing recipe for that?

https://www.woodenboat.com/varnishing-basics

Here is a good discussion. If anyone knows how to varnish wood, it is a boat builder.

That is a good guide but it doesn't name names with regard to specific product to use...

DHort wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 28, 2021 11:40 pm

https://www.woodenboat.com/varnishing-basics

Here is a good discussion. If anyone knows how to varnish wood, it is a boat builder.

I do not think it really matters. You are in Houston. There has to be a bunch of boat dealers down there. Pay them a visit and ask what they recommend. They will know what sealer goes with what varnish better than I will. I used Mylands to seal my wheels and then Rustoleum 2X black, but you want to go natural, so you would do the same as they would for a wooden mast.

Try Craven Boatbuilding in Kemah, TX. 713-924-7746

Modern 2 part clear as used on cars these days is far superior to any of the old varnishes or enamels.
On wood it is important to brush the first coat onto the spokes thinned down so it can soak into the timber and seal it off.
Once sealed spray the clear as one would if clear coating a base coat color. Don't forget the better the wood is prepared the better the result.

I have 2 pack clear on the Kamper wheels it been on over 20 years through all types of weather hot to freezing , still as good as new.

That seems like a good approach. Can I foam brush the first coat? I always get brush stroke issues with a regular brush.

Luxford wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 29, 2021 6:27 am

Modern 2 part clear as used on cars these days is far superior to any of the old varnishes or enamels.
On wood it is important to brush the first coat onto the spokes thinned down so it can soak into the timber and seal it off.
Once sealed spray the clear as one would if clear coating a base coat color. Don't forget the better the wood is prepared the better the result.

I have 2 pack clear on the Kamper wheels it been on over 20 years through all types of weather hot to freezing , still as good as new.

Back in the ‘50’s my grandfather stripped the paint off the wheels of our Touring and varnished them. I like to keep the car like he had it so when I had the wheels rewooded almost 10 years ago I didn’t want to paint them.

First I used Minwax Cherry Wood Gel Stain to give some color. Then I used the Epifanes Clear Varnish followed by the Epifanes Matte finish since I didn’t want a high gloss finish. Pretty sure I used a foam brush.

They have held up great and look just as good as the day I mounted them back on the car.