13-17 Hubcaps

[Original Smith]

The difference is obvious. The one on the left is the 1913 style, while the left one is 14-17, maybe even later?

[John kuehn]

Looks like Ford used a different die when the Ford logo was pressed into the earlier hubcaps. The older ones look more intricate.
Maybe he switched to another supplier who made the hubcaps for Model T’s.
I don’t know if Ford shops made the hubcaps in the brass era or not. That information might be found in Fords archives. I can remember when going to Chickasha years ago and people looking for those older hubcaps. And especially some that weren’t beat up or rounded on the corners.

[KWTownsend]

The Ford script on the 1913 hubcaps look like the same size and location as the 1912 hubcap.

These were photographed before the black oxide background was completed.

Here is a 1912-1913 comparison:

The encyclopedia says this hubcap appeard in blueprints July 13,1911. However I have only seen the earlier 1911 style hubcaps on era photographs of late 1911 and early 1912 cars with the step-side body. Who knows when they were actually introduced on the assembly line...

These hubcaps are on November-ish 1911 car s/n 83XXX:

Hubcap Chad.png (547.89 KiB) Viewed 122 times

...and are known to be original to the car:

On the "1913" hubcap Larry shows above, the "MADE IN USA" appears on the blueprint April 16, 1912.
Again, when the hubcaps were used in production is open for discussion.

: ^ )

Keith

[NealW]

These hubcaps are on November-ish 1911 car s/n 83XXX:
Hubcap Chad.png

...and are known to be original to the car:
hubcap Chad stamped.png

: ^ )

Keith

Being the current caretaker of S/N 83XXX, I can attest that these hubcaps are original to the first owner, W.F. Markham. That guy stamped his name, fortunately in small lettering, on the hubcaps, firewall trim and door handles! In the era of cars not having a unique key to start them, I guess owners got creative in the ways to show that their car was actually their car!

[Original Smith]

Thanks Keith for posting those wonderful photos!