MTFCA Forum

We got these 4 wheels at Hershey this year, the all steel hub and spokes are a one piece unit with the rim held on with 8 lugs. After cleaning them up, inked under the bearing hub I can make out Dayton and what looks like the word spoke and wheel co. I had to do a little straightening on only one as the others were fine. Would anyone have any information on these andwere they made by the Dayton Wire Wheel Co. Dan

Those look like the same wheels the infamous Howard Genrich had on his red speedster.
You might reference him in a forum search.

That set resembles the Parker Press steel spoke wheel, as those locking lugs around the demountable rim is a design feature.




Dayton did make steel spoke wheels, however the rims used were like Ford rims, with just 4 clamping points. Perhaps the Parker wheel company was bought later by Dayton, so perhaps that is why the Dayton name is on your set, which look like Parker wheels.

Thank You for the information, I will look for Parker information. I did find out that they were from Cleveland Ohio and maybe Dayton got the rights to make them or bought them out.

If memory serves Howards wheels were originally for a cement mixer . . .shhhhhh!

babychadwick wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 22, 2022 10:03 pm

If memory serves Howards wheels were originally for a cement mixer . . .shhhhhh!

I was with a fellow model T guy today very familiar with Howard G. My friend confirmed Parker wheels.

Ok, just going by information relating to when he first got them and family stories.

Chad,
I remember the cement mixer story also and the Cheshire cat grin on Howards face when he told it. Darn I miss wrong way Howard. He sure could tell a story.
Craig.

Ok, since we have a set of these wheels what is the cement mixer story??? Dan

Probably that story was on the ‘origin’ of such steel spoked wheel…. Here is a vintage cement mixer with steel spoke hand wheel.

Just a funny joke, those wheels are Parker brand, and at Hershey this month a single ‘Parker - like’ steel wheel without rim or the special lugs was offered.

Hi Dan,
I'm not sure where the story began but people would always ask Howard where he got those wheels and where can they get a set? The answer was ( not always from Howard ) that he found them on a cement mixer on a T chassis in a scrapyard. I have heard the story told by many people other than Howard with a great deal of authority in there voice. Howard would grin with approval when someone offered the story. Howard will always remain a larger than life character in my memories.
Craig.

Thank You Craig and Dan, this year’s Hershey is where we got the wheels (in the Red field) and I looked at the single cast spoked wheel but I had already spent Way too much money to justify another wheel. I have found some Perry literature and the SAE tests they did on the wheels in 1915 but I haven’t found anything on why these have Dayton inked on them but still looking to see if the Hydraulic Pressed Steel Co. sold that part of the co. To Dayton Wire Wheel. Thanks again Dan Greger

The cement mixer very well could be true. I bought a cement mixer because it had a hit and miss motor on it and a T axle with wire wheels and hubs. I sold the motor and kept the front end for the wheels and hubs. Made money on that deal and got the T parts as more profit. Last year I bought a hay wagon just for 2 Hayes wire wheels and caps. Scrapped everything and kept the Hayes with good spindles and bearings.

Dan

A few more ads on the Hydraulic Press Steel Co. wheels for the Ford. Found earliest one Aug 1915 in FordOwner, then ads in 1916 and 1917, none in 1918 and beyond. Could be short lived company, as they were pricey at $32 a set, about 10% of the price of the new Ford in 1916!

The 1916 ad says wheel in RED enamel and rim in BLACK enamel, classy looking colors back then

Here's a link to some pictures of Humble Howard's Lucky 7 with the white steel spoked wheels.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/11 ... 1268755229

HH really liked those wheels and was not shy about bragging how cool they were. RIP HH

Golly. Bruce, Ralph, Stan.

dang.1922 wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 23, 2022 8:11 pm

Ok, since we have a set of these wheels what is the cement mixer story??? Dan

As I was told by my Grandfather when younger . . .

When Howard first got the wheels on his car he was thrilled and loved them but asking around nobody knew of their source until my Gpa showed up and took one look at them and identified them as the wheels that he had seen younger that were used on the cement mixers. Of course this got a good little chuckle out of everybody.

Thank You all for the information, pictures and the story about Howard’s wheels. I would like to have known him and listened to his stories. I am trying to get some information from Dayton Wire Wheel on the early years of the company to see if they acquired or got the rights to make or sell the Perry wheel (a long shot I know).Dan

Sorry, did not read all of the above information, BUT, I beleive these wheels may have been on (concrete buggys), a two wheeled cart used in heavy construction, up to the fifties, check me out. Dave in Bellreingham, wa

A few yers ago I was lucky enough to purchase the Vee radiator with #7 painted on the core. I run it on my 1914 roadster. It takes just shy of 4 gallons of water. No wonder he could do so well on those cross country jaunts.

just sayin'

frontyboy