Technical What in the heck Ford wheels are these?

I thought that I was just buying Model A wheels. I was wrong.

What in the heck are these?

 

That is an aftermarket Bool hubcap, to fit a model A rim. The 16 inch rim was welded to a stock 19 inch original model A wheel?

 

Yes…not all that uncommon. A 19” (or possibly a 21”) center is cut out, spokes shortened and welded to smaller wheel rim.

Ray

 

Holy cow. Thank you both for such fast responses. I guess I could have searched more.

So are these worth less than normal wheels? What was the purpose for cutting and welding? Easier tire availability?

 

Not that it matters... but the 21” wheel centers took a smaller cap. Definitely 19”

 

I was not intending to suggest the wheel pictured was maybe a 21” wheel. Rather, the same operation could be done with either a 19” or a 21”.

Ray

 

The 16 inch tires were easier to get during WW II. Probably worth about the same as an original wheel.

Charlie Stephens

 

I need to get these tires and tubes out and see if there is pitting. If a decent set, did I get a deal at $30? I want to build a cobbled together 1932 roadster eventually. I just recently missed out on a frame here locally.

 

If they spin true and can be balanced out, they'd be kinda neat to use since they're custom, but they're not really valuable. If they're safe, they'd be cool to run on car (I wouldn't put a ton of power to them) just for the history.

Some of these cut-down wheels may have been made on a jig by a craftsman with solid welding skills, and some may have been made by a farmer looking for a way to use common 16" tires on a hay wagon and not planning to go more than 10 mph, you'll need to figure out how quality of a job was done here. Although the one pictured does look pretty square to me so hopefully they'll be usable.

 

I have seen many of those. I bought a couple to give to a good friend. His are '28-9 centers with 16" rims and he runs them on his stocker '29 Model A closed cab pickup with big and little radials. They were done in the old days when 16" tires were more available than 19 & 21's.

The FOOL or BOOL caps were aftermarket and were available in '28-9 and also '30-1's. I got a set for a friend with a Dodge Brothers touring with a Willys F head engine and later axles. Found him some 30-1 19" wheels to match his bolt pattern, then gave him the FOOL's since it wasn't a Ford and if someone got down on there knees to figure it out he could kick them in the ass while they were down there!

I gave $25 or so apiece for the wheels I bought.

Dave

 

Looks like a good way to use up temporary spares!

 

I really appreciate all of the information. I will keep an eye out for 3 more hub caps. This is the only one in the set.

Temp spares are great for rolling around until I can actually afford this hobby. Haha

 

See the resized model 'A' rims from time to time at farm sales/swap meets, one of those "do what you had to do to keep doin what you do" !