Wheel Rim Help

[newtovintage]

I am in need of some prompt advice about wheel rims. My father has 3 of them. They have Ford written on the front. I have taken a few pictures which are in the link below.

http://s400.photobucket.com/albums/pp90/newtovintage/

I was able to trace the style back to 1930 Ford cars, but I need to know if there is anyway to tell of a more definite date. Also, how much they would be worth?

Thank you,
Sarah

 

[newtovintage]

Can anyone tell me anything about these wheel rims? I really need some advice.

Sarah

 

[Bill Taylor]

The rims appear to be from a Ford Model A (1928 -1932) and possibly Model B (1932 late -1933 early). Late 1933 Fords were a transistion to a more "modern" car design, and probably did not have wire spoke wheels. For a deluxe Briggs Ford Model A, there would have been six rims (four tires installed) and a side mount on each front fender. (Same true for deluxe Ford Model A Roadster). The more standard models did not have side mounts, although I think they all had the wire spoke wheels.

As an aside, my first car, bought with 3 other high school friends in 1947, was a 1928 Ford Model A, 4 door Sedan Briggs body, with such wire spoke wheels and the sidemounts on each front fender. The sidemounts had a light tan canvas cover around the tire. We paid $37 for the car from an older gentleman who bought the car new and had enough money left over to buy 10 gallons of gas for about two dollars or less. As I recall, gas was about 14 cents a gallon in 1947. Gas prices had increased a good bit from before 1941 and WWII, when it was 10 or 12 cents a gallon.

Hope this is what you were looking for.

Bill Taylor

 

[up196]

Model A rims

They are wheels for a 1930 or 1931 Ford Model A car. If you measure the diameter, it should be 19 inches.

The 1928-1929 Ford Model A had 21" rims.

The later Fords with wire wheels had the lug nuts covered by the hubcap.

The '32 had 18 inch rims, the '33 and '34 had 17 inch and teh '35 had 16inch rims.

The 1936 had pressed steel wheels; no wire spokes.

 

[newtovintage]

Thank you both! The information you provided does help with the questions of age. I will have to go measure them to make sure of the date. The other question still stands, what would kind of value would there be on these if I wanted to sell them?

Sarah

 

[up196]

Value

Unfortunately, there a too many variables in determining the value of such wheels to do it from photos.

The main concerns are whether they "spin true" (that is they are not warped) and the condition of the lug holes (that they are not worn to the degree that the wheel cannot be tightened to the drum without the use of special washers).

Also of interest is the condition of the spokes (whether they are straight or if any have been broken and re-welded) and the general condition and roughness of the metal, which of course, would affect their appearance after re-painting.

Browse through the ads here under "Parts For Sale" and you should get a feel for what like condition original wheels sell for: http://www.mafca.com/classifieds.html

There are also current re-productions of these wheels that sell for around $300.00 from the major Model A parts suppliers.

 

[newtovintage]

Where would be good places to try & sell the wheel rims?

Sarah

 

[up196]

I'd go to that same MAFCA website and look under "Chapters." There is contact information on Club chapters nationwide.

Try contacting one of the Ohio chapters, there are three, and ask if they might list them for sale in their newsletter.