Ford Script Kelsey Demountable Rim

[namdc3]

Hi. I’d like to know more information about this rim. It is a Ford 2845B style rim made by Kelsey. One lug is marked with a K and Ford script. On the inside, it is stamped No. 188 and has the same Kelsey stampings (name and patent information) as the fellows in this old post. This rim also has a faint stamp that I think is an 8-24 date but it is very hard to tell. I’ve always read that Ford 2845B rims were made my Cleveland, Firestone, and Motor Wheel, but I can’t find information on Kelsey making them. Thanks.

https://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/2 ... 1336586703

[Allan]

Our Canadian sourced cars have Kelsey wheels and rims. The rims on my barn fresh pickup all have the month/ year stamped inside. They were No 88 rims for loose lugs. My guess is the number 188 is used to distinguish your fixed lug rim from the loose lug 88's.

In the link to a previous post, which shows a Kelsey felloe, it also shows a relief in the felloe typical of felloes made by Hayes to take rims with the foot on the lug. This relief is NOT needed for a Kelsey fixed lug rim, as there is no foot on the lug. Perhaps it had been modified later on to take a Hayes rim.

Allan from down under.

[namdc3]

I noticed that, Allan. I don’t know if late felloes were designed to universally accept both footed and non-footed lugs, or if those were modified. I also don’t know if those steel spoke wheels just happen to use Kelsey 188 felloes or if those are fully Kelsey wheels. Is the 188 rim made for the 188-felloed steel spoke wheel? If so, why the Ford script? If I had to guess, I’d say Kelsey was a supplier for late wood spoked “Ford” clincher wheels/rims using Kelsey’s No. 188 model felloe and rim, but I haven’t seen that documented elsewhere. The steel spoke thread is the only thing on the internet I can find on Kelsey No. 188.