Was the "Steel-spoke" a Truly Outstanding Feature of Model "A" Fords?

[ericr]

Seems to me it was, perhaps the rolled lip on the '28-'29 was not so great, but once eliminated for '30-'31, the one-piece wheel had to have been top-shelf engineering in that era, far longer-lasting than artillery wheels and prettier than disc wheels.

Did you guys ever have much effort into restoring your wheels or any issues with them?

[DougVieyra]

Ford's steel spoke wheel was revolutionary in every respect, including the 'rolled up lip' on the '28-'29. Whole booklets have been written and distributed on the subject of the engineering, production and quality of the Ford wheel.

I never had any issues with, or put much effort into restoring the wheels on any of my Model A's. Of course it was not so much an issue 60 years ago when wheels were easy to find in excellent shape @ $10 apiece at swap meets of the 1960's.

[Rowdy]

With having close to thirty 21" wheels it was mainly picking out the best five and fixing a couple of cracks. In the sorting I did scrap a few with severly wobbled lug holes and rusted through beads. Most looked repairable. I did in the process make a stand to check for runout. Rod

[31 Woody]

Hi Doug,
I rounded up about 9 steel 30-31 wheels and inspected, tested, and scored each wheel on a number of categories. I picked out the best five and simply took them in for powder coating. That's it, mount tires and go. The wood wheels are off the wagon for now as one of the wheels needs some spoke work. Made any progress with your wood wheel set?
Dave

[DougVieyra]

No, Dave. "I have not yet begun to fight." My wood-spoked artillery wheels are still resting at the back wall of the ranch barn.

Dave, when I bought my wheels 50 years ago, there was a guy up in the Sierra Foothills that used to do repair work (Lots of Model T's). Cliff Darmstead or something like that (50 years is a long time ago). I still need some work on one of my wood wheels, where do you go for work on yours ?

- Doug Vieyra, Wheel Collector (silly boy)

[31 Woody]

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I haven't decided where to go yet. The options I have found are:
- A guy that does T wheels here in Southern California
- An Amish wheel shop in Ohio I found through some searches
- Coker tire does wood wheels, but they charge a not so small fortune

I am hoping to check out the Amish shop in person this July during a summer trip. I need to contact the T wheel guy and see if he is capable, because this is far different from working on a T wheel. He may not even want to do it.

[Pinesdune]

I have heard of some quality wheelwrights in Alberta, with the exchange being in your favor it might be worth looking into. But I found this website a while back, it may be of help. Have a great day, Malcolm

http://www.wcwa.ca/wheelwrights.html

[katy]

Ford's steel spoke wheel was revolutionary in every respect,

True enough, but they came out in late '25 for the '26 Model T's, they weren't "new" for the Model A, just a different centre section.

[DougVieyra]

Katy - Of course you are absolutely right. However, A or T, it was Henry Ford who strove to develop a superior wheel - a fixed steel-spooked wheel for his 'cheap' cars. It was just another effort on his part to give the consumer the highest value at the lowest price.

[ericr]

Originally Posted by DougVieyra

Katy - Of course you are absolutely right. However, A or T, it was Henry Ford who strove to develop a superior wheel - a fixed steel-spooked wheel for his 'cheap' cars. It was just another effort on his part to give the consumer the highest value at the lowest price.

boy, ain't that the truth, and such an attitude was likely rare in that era, and nonexistent today; though he was in a unique position, having a mammoth organization that could control material costs including the profit middlemen were making off of him.

I doubt we will ever see such a juxtaposition of those economic factors emerging in any single industry again.

[ericr]

Originally Posted by forever4

Well, how do explain Apple? Seems a similar situation to me.
Highly successful and sought after and valued products.
Highly innovative features, and controls most aspects of design.
Relies on top outside expert suppliers when needed.
High quality materials and builds.
High quality software and performance.
Steady improvement and addition of features while holding or lowering cost.
Controls middlemen and retailers to protect the brand, for both Apple and the consumers.

I think in this age there are lots of examples of empires like Ford,
but not in lumber, mining, railroads, oil, etc.
Not in cars, tools, machines, etc.

Instead now in logistics, electronics and software.

What will be next? (I have a few bucks on hand to invest)

-and how much of all that stuff is made in Chinese sweatshops?

[DougVieyra]

Ericr - post # 12: -and how much of all that stuff is made in Chinese sweatshops?
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Chinese 'sweat shops' differ only geographically from the Ford's industrial "sweat shops" of the 1920's and early '30's. There were a great many elements that went into becoming a 'millionaire' and into making a great product that serves humanity; in the main, labor costs make up the largest expense in manufacturing. What one might view as 'sweat shops' can also be seen by others as 'an escape from starvation'. That was true of Ford (and most other industrialists) in the 1920' & '30's, and it is still true today.

[ericr]

Originally Posted by forever4

Your posted comment made no reference to countries, only to industries.

I am not aware anything I mentioned is made in "sweatshops"

I'll let you argue that our with this British paper:

Revealed: Inside Apple's Chinese 'sweatshop' factory where ...

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2103798