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Old 11-03-2019, 05:01 PM   #25
DKnapp
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 740
Default Re: Model "A" Era Accessories - Wood Wheels

Motor Wheel Corporation, Lancing Michigan, made demountable wood wheels for the 1928-29 (21") and 1930-31 (19") Model A's. This was a time when the auto industry was switching to the stronger, durable and more modern and stylish wire and solid wheels. Even the Ford Model T went from wood to wire wheels in 1926 and 1927. So, understandably, these accessory wood wheels were not a big hit or big seller for Model A's. I can't say that I think they do much for the looks of a coupe or sedan, but I do like them on a Station Wagon.
The wheels fit on a standard Model A hub, but the lug nuts are quite different. They are a couple of inches long as they have to go thru the thick wood and over the original hub studs. The hub caps are unique also. The face has the M-W super imposed on the cap and the caps stick out from the wheel. Most of these caps are pretty beat up from hitting the high curbs in the early days.
I found a set of these wheels complete with lug nuts and hub caps in 1967 at the Hershey Swap Meet. I recognized them as a really rare accessory, but did not have a station wagon to put them on. That changed in 1969 and these wheels have been running on this wagon ever since. Most recently my son and his family have been beating the roads in Orange County California with this wagon.

Dick Knapp, Garfield, Arkansas
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