Adjustable spoke Model A wheels

[mcgarrett]

I was made aware of a set of 6 adjustable spoke wheels for sale that the owner claims are for a Model A. I haven't seen them in person yet, only poor photos that are slightly out of focus - size is 5.50x18. Can anyone verify such a wheel was made for Model A's and would they be worth owning? Any other information about them would be appreciated.

[Charlie Stephens]

I believe they did make adjustable spoke wheels aftermarket for the Model A. If they are 18 inch they were probably intended to fit a 1932. I bet they have the larger '32 hubcaps. All wire wheels from 1928-25 will fit a Model A bolt pattern so I guess you could say they are "for" a Model A. Attached is a photo of the larger '32 hubcap mounted on a Kelsey Hayes aftermarket wire wheel, I bet this is what you will find on the wheels you are looking at.

Charlie Stephens

[mcgarrett]

Charlie,
Thanks for your reply. The photos of the wheels I saw didn't look like your photo. The proportions definitely look more like a Model A wheel and the rear row of spokes do have a bend near base of the spoke and they have the adjustable nipples in the rim like a motorcycle wheel and have the small hub caps like a Model A. I hope to get an in-person look at them in the next couple of days if they haven't been sold already.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by mcgarrett

Charlie,
Thanks for your reply. The photos of the wheels I saw didn't look like your photo. The proportions definitely look more like a Model A wheel and the rear row of spokes do have a bend near base of the spoke and they have the adjustable nipples in the rim like a motorcycle wheel and have the small hub caps like a Model A. I hope to get an in-person look at them in the next couple of days if they haven't been sold already.

I posted the photo just to show the hubcap, the wheel is different. Be sure to get some pictures.

Charlie Stephens

[Bob Bidonde]

Kelsey Hayes made adjustable spoke wheels. However, only 1/2 of the spokes in an adjustable spoke wheel support the vehicle because their spokes can only carry tension loads. Ford's spoked wheels are electric welded so they carry tension & compression loads. Thus all of the spokes in Ford wheels carry loads making them stronger.

[mcgarrett]

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Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

Kelsey Hayes made adjustable spoke wheels. However, only 1/2 of the spokes in an adjustable spoke wheel support the vehicle because their spokes can only carry tension loads. Ford's spoked wheels are electric welded so they carry tension & compression loads. Thus all of the spokes in Ford wheels carry loads making them stronger.

Bob, thanks for your reply. I wondered what advantage, if any, would there be to having adjustable spokes on a Model A. Seems like something else an owner would have to have to maintain.

[The Master Cylinder]

Originally Posted by mcgarrett

Bob, thanks for your reply. I wondered what advantage, if any, would there be to having adjustable spokes on a Model A. Seems like something else an owner would have to have to maintain.

With adjustable spokes you would be able to true them. Pretty hard to do with welded spokes.

Coker used to have adjustable spoke Model A wheels. I don't know if they still have them or not.

[Steve Schmauch]

Kelsey Hayes did not produce adjustable or non-adjustable 19" bent-spoke wheels for the Model A. These were made by Motor Wheel Corporation and Firestone. Inside near the valve stem hole some are marked with a fractional of 19 over 300. Some are marked Motor Wheel Corp and some are marked Firestone. Most do not have any markings. There is a difference in the position of the valve stem hole--some point to a lug nut hole; others point to between lug nut holes (Motor Wheel Corp). Some of these wheels have adjustable spokes while some are non-adjustable.

[rotorwrench]

Ford started using the welded spoke wheels in mid to late 1926 for model T cars to replace the labor intensive wood spoke wheels. They were machine made so they were inexpensive and could be mass produced. Kelsey hays made a lot of aftermarket laced spoke wheels for Ford cars but I haven't seen any for model A cars. KH had bent spoke designed laced spoke wheels that were fairly popular in the 30s.

Laced spoke wheels work the same way as welded spoke wheels and is some ways they do it better since they are always in tension as long as the spokes are properly torqued. They can be repaired by replacement of spokes and rims so it actually makes them more versatile. They are more expensive to produce since it takes more hand labor to lace and true them so Ford opted for welded ones.

[Randy in ca]

Originally Posted by mcgarrett

I was made aware of a set of 6 adjustable spoke wheels for sale that the owner claims are for a Model A. I haven't seen them in person yet, only poor photos that are slightly out of focus - size is 5.50x18. Can anyone verify such a wheel was made for Model A's and would they be worth owning? Any other information about them would be appreciated.

-
Is 5.50" the width of the wheels or the size of the tire? A 5.50" wide wheel is almost twice as wide as the stock model A wheel and Fords only used 3.25" wide wheels for the 18" tires in 1932. The last spoked wheels Ford used in 1935 for the 16" tires were only 4" wide.

[mcgarrett]

In the photo, a closeup of the tire size shows 5.50 x 18.

[Bleedblue4life]

Here is, what i believe to be, a nos bent spoke 19 inch.

[Steve Schmauch]

Bleedblue4life--Are there any stampings located near the valve stem hole on the inside of the rim? Like "Motor Wheel Corp" or a "19 over 300" fraction? Thanks in advance for looking!

[ModelA29]

Originally Posted by mcgarrett

.... I wondered what advantage, if any, would there be to having adjustable spokes on a Model A......

They were an advantage for owners living in the city. You could easily retrue them after your wife bounced them off a curb.


My 16" Kelsey Hayes has welded spokes.

[Bleedblue4life]

Originally Posted by Steve Schmauch

Bleedblue4life--Are there any stampings located near the valve stem hole on the inside of the rim? Like "Motor Wheel Corp" or a "19 over 300" fraction? Thanks in advance for looking!

I have not see anything on them. I looked for a stamping with no luck.