MTFCA Forum

I only have one like this and always wondered why these holes were here.
Now I know...
What type of latch goes here?

: ^ )
Keith

That's the one Keith. I have only ever had one of those tools. I sent it to a good friend in Western Australia to go in the toolkit for his 26 roadster pickup.

Allan from down under.

I believe that most or all of the Canadian built 26-27 cars used these Kelsey wheels. I know that is what is on my 27 Touring. I have had to repair the "loops" for the lock pin on some of my rims and would love to get my hands on one of these Kelsey tools. The instruction booklet would be a bonus. Is there anyway to get a copy? The Kelsey wheels also used a different size and shape spoke. I found that out the hard way when I tried to install the spokes normally sold by the regular vedors. Ended up having my wheels rebuilt by Bill Calimer. He does very nice work.

David-
Here is your opportunity to own you very own!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/317237024859?i ... rNWP&pfm=0

: ^ )
Keith

I'll probably regret it later but I think I'll pass. Probably be double that price by the time I get it here (Canada) considering exchange rate, postage, duties/tarrifs and carrier collection fees. When did life get so complicated? Thanks anyway

I have found these rims on cars and wheels I have seen and bought here in the South. Don’t know how they got here, but some were on cars been here most if not all their life.
One thing, have not seen is the no lug rim style like in the booklet. Have seen the 30x3.5 Kelsey rims with no lugs.
If fact I bought 4 NOS ones out a Ford dealer in Tn. They had been there since 1924/25.
Has anyone seen the style rim as in the booklet, no lugs? Or is that only a Canadian thing? Dan

Dan, i think the style in the booklet illustration is an artists rendition. I believe the drawing is in error. Such a rim was ever used on a T, It shows a lug which straddles a rim bolt. It is there to stop the rim rotating on the wheel if the mounting bolts were to come loose. This is typical of 30" demountable clincher rims with loose lugs.
Our Canadian sourced cars had loose lug rims well into the production of the 1925 model Ts. We had fixed lug 23" rims for a short while before the introduction of the 21' split rims, all of which were of the fixed lug type.

Allan from down under.

I have the same set up on my 1909 Stoddard Dayton. I WANT one of those rim tools. Anyone have one for sale I'm your buyer.

thnx
frontyboy test or call 2ho6 919-1949

Maybe the illustration is correct then. Cars, other than Ts may have used straight sided tyres with split rims made bu Kelsey. We live and learn.

Allan from down under.

FundyTides wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 03, 2025 9:36 pm

I believe that most or all of the Canadian built 26-27 cars used these Kelsey wheels. I know that is what is on my 27 Touring. I have had to repair the "loops" for the lock pin on some of my rims and would love to get my hands on one of these Kelsey tools. The instruction booklet would be a bonus. Is there anyway to get a copy? The Kelsey wheels also used a different size and shape spoke. I found that out the hard way when I tried to install the spokes normally sold by the regular vedors. Ended up having my wheels rebuilt by Bill Calimer. He does very nice work.

I have seen other brands of rims/wheels that have the same setup for collapsing the rim not just Ford wheels.

Once Canadian production started I believe Kelsey wheels were used exclusively. On our model Ts, 30" clincher wheels were all of the loose lug type until nearly at the end of 1925 production. Then we got the fixed lug rims with which US T owners are more familiar. Once the 21" wheels were introduced, these had fixed lug split rims to be used in conjunction with that special tool.

The illustration in the tool handbook shows a loose lug rim. These may well have been used, on different sizes and on different makes of cars, but not on a T. The over riding point to remember is the split rim was required when straight sided tyres were introduced. The wire reinforcement in their beads did not allow them to be levered/stretched onto a clincher rim.

Allan from down under.