I stopped by the local Auction on a friends recommendation for a set of 50's fiberglass lampshade lamps and found a pile of car parts while I was there. I bid $25 on a set of 5 wire wheels just because I didn't want to see them go to the scrapper. I called over this morning to see what I won and it turns out I got the lamps and the wheels. So, for $25 did I catch a score on the set of wheels? Here is a stock image I found for reference:
If they are 16's 5 x 5.5 BC, yes you got a deal. If they are 17's, 18's, 19's , and up. ummmm SoSo on the deal
I'd like to buy a set or pair of '32 wire wheels (18"). If yours are 18" & in good condition I'd be interested. JH
off the top of my head, they seemed smaller than larger, if that makes any sense. They also had some, what I thought to be, early Chevy solids. They were huge, had to be 19" or 20" but they were pretty rough. I'll see if they're still there when I pickup my stuff tomorrow.
They look larger than 16". Or at least the space between the rim and hub seems to be bigger (in scale) than what I've been poking a wrench through to pop my wheel covers off for the past few years. I think 25 is a good deal no matter the size.
If you got 5 early rims for $5 each, worst case they're always worth that. When I go to the you-pull-it and buy modern rims usually I have to pay $5 or $10 a shot. Hang 'em on the wall and be glad they're not off to become a new Chery sedan.
The worst thing you could have bought here is 5 water hose racks for the side of the house or garage, or grinder mount base plates. The best thing would have been Kelsey Hayes bent spoke wheels BUT they ARE NOT. What you have bought appears to be a set of stock 17" 33-34 Ford welded spoke wheels which are OK too. 17" tires and tubes are available without problem. Try Lucas Automotive in Long Beach CA for all sizes of antique tires. Now, Kelsey-Hayes did in fact manufacture stock factory-style welded spoke wheels for Ford and other spoked wheels for other automobile manufacturers for decades on end. They usually have a "K-H" or "KH" stamped into them in the hub. These are NOT the desireable Kelsey-Hayes "bent spoke" accessory wheels so often mentioned here but not described. The K-H accessory wheels have the rows of short spokes crossing each other with a bend at the top and bottom of each spoke changing the "X" shape to a much more flashy design.
I paid $250 for four '35 straight spoke welded wires in pretty rough condition. After stripping & blasting then having them straightened I have a nice set of wires. You started out a few $$$ ahead of me. You got a deal.
yeah....never post pics of something if it`s not the actual item.....too many people only look at pictures....
I can never figure that out either, especially selling crap on eBay, how it is so many people can't read, but can still manage to type?? You'd think they'd be mutually exclusive.
picked them up this morning. They appear to be about 17.5" edge to edge. they're welded too as you can not see the spoke ends on the inside of the wheel either. InDaShop, the smoothies were gone but I thought about you when I got there, I looked for them but no dice.
Sounds like they are 34-33 rims... Not many people want them, but 5 bucks a rim is still a great deal. Hang em on the wall! My dad has 100+ model a wires on the wall of his shop and 20+ model T wires on the walls.
This was the first time I was ever at this auction and didn't know how they worked. I figured some stuff wouldn't sell and still be there today. there were a bunch of old junky carbs, taillight lenses, a dog house from a 40's Plymouth, etc. I couldn't believe it was all gone today.
They may actually be 1935 ford 16" rims, which makes them more desirable. I don't have one handy to measure here, but measure across from bead area to bead area, rather than edge to edge, and see what you come up with.
The valve stem hole looks to be flush and looking at the length of the spokes they look likethe 16" wires off of a 35 Ford... Dave Brisco
The Jalopy Journal
