Artillery wheel variations? pic

In trying to piece together a set of artillery wheels i've ended up with 8 rims, all 16x4.5 and all 5 on 5 1/2, and at least 3 different variations. Does anyone have or know where to get more info on these wheels, such as manufacturers, what they were used on, etc? I think I have 4 that somewhat match, no hubcaps though. The top four will be the ones I run, but 2 have clips for the rings that mount hubcaps, and the other two are smooth with no clips at all. The orange wheel is different altogether, with a center similar to a Jumbo wheel and a flat area where the lugs go, and the wheel to the left of it has a chrome center with the inner ring tacked in place, and was pinstriped, which suggests it wasnt military at all, or was done later in its life. They all have riveted centers, with 14 spokes. Just curious to see if any info is out there.

 

Well actually none of them are really from military use. Plymouth i think. How the heck did you find eight of them ? Not something you come across that often.

 

They were available from aftermarket suppliers and/or from all the car makers as well. Sometimes they were optional equipment that could be ordered on your new car. Sometimes they came standard. Almost ever car maker used them at one time or another. If yours are 5 on 5 1/2 bolt pattern then they are only fit Fords. That one wheel has a bigger center hole and I bet it has a 5 on 5 3/4 bolt pattenr. I just sold 2 of those and never did figure out what they fit. Possibly military truck or trailer. You have a nice group that are worthy of being blasted and powder coated.

 

How about Studebaker??? I'm thinking that the one in the center with chrome spokes is from a 1935 Studebaker.

 

All but the orange one is aftermarket for fords. If you look closely at the bolt pattern you'll see that they have the two plane bolt pattern like early ford wire wheels have. The wheels were made by a company called Budd, which was bought out by kelsey hayes in the early thirties, so some of these wheels will have Budd makings on them, some will have K-H on them and some won't have any. I'd like to do a ID tech on artillery wheels but there are so many different types and I don't know about them all. Like that orange one, I have no idea what it could be from.
Jimmy

 

Thanks for chiming in Jimmy.

 

By the way, do you want to sell them ones you're not using?
Jimmy

 

I'm thinking that orange one might be a Jeep, that big hole i've only seen on jeep wheels, but I didn't think they ever made an artillery.\
Jimmy

 

Thanks, interesting info, Jimmy I still need to call you one day on fitting caps on them, as far as the extra wheels, only the centers are good on a few of them, the rims are rusted through , I was going to move the artillery centers to some stock wheels, but lucked up on the other better ones.

 

Ah, so that is the way to tell the Ford wheels from others. I'll have to file that bit of info away for future use!

The Studebakers do have the 5 x 5 1/2" pattern though, correct?

 

That orange one may be a Firestone or Clark wheel. Check the back for the Clark stamping. If not it may have Firestone on it someplace.
Clark

 

i think Cord also had them.

 

I have a question, that someone might have the answer to, relating to artillery wheels on 1930's vehicles. What were these fancy wheels called back when they were first installed on the new 1930's vehicles?

 

Just wiped the orange one down and looked at it in detail, there are no identifying markings anywhere on it that I can find, It is definitely a 16" with a 5 1/2 bolt pattern though.

 

The bolt holes look smaller on this one.

 

Looking thru my Standard Catalog of American Cars there is very little mention of what they were called. I notice the 1933 Chrysler has optional "Special Goodrich Spoke wheels with General Jumbo tires" as an option. Other makes simply referred to them as "steel spoke wheels" as compared to "wire spoke or wood spoke wheels". Also 1932 Studebaker called them "chrome plated spoke wheels".

 

Another question is when did the name artillery wheels become popular? I'm guessing that they were used in WWII as running gear on trailers that hauled field artillery guns. Cannons, machine guns, and anti-aircraft guns that were pulled behind Jeeps and big trucks.

 

Like Povertyflats, I have a set of 5 3/4". Anyone have an idea what they would fit?

 

You're kinda right, but I think you've got your wars mixed up.

I'm going on memory here but I think the use of steel wheels on artillary pieces began in World War 1. They were developed and used as replacements for wood spoked wheels. The use of "artillary wheels "on cars began in the late teens or twenties. At that time they were more or less flat, solid disks with demountable rims. Early packards and other large cars used them due to there greater strenghth compared to wood spoke wheels. Seems like I remember that some early Chevrolets used this type wheel.

I have no idea when or how the term "artillary wheel" was applied to the steel spoked wheels shown above.

As noted, this info is from a somewhat unreliable memory and id certainly not to be taken as gospel !

Ted

 

Yes, I found a WWI cannon running gear on a farm that had Budd wheels and solid rubber tires on it. They were solid disc wheels just like you described. Sadly, there was no cannon. I would have been all over that!

 

Ford called the wood spoke wheels used on the Model T "artillery wheels".

From the introduction bulletin for the 1909 Model T, listing all the features of the car:

"WHEELS: Artillery wood type. Hubs extra long."

 

My31...what does the back of the orange wheel look like? Is the center part on the back cast?
Clark

 

Clark, yes it has a cast center, also on the backside each spoke has an extra webbing for strength, which is not present on my other seven.

 

The wheels I had that were identical to that one said "Clark" on the back side. They had a 5 on 5.75 bolt pattern and small holes like that. I sold them cheap on Ebay since I didn't need them.

 

My31 I'm pretty sure it's a Clark wheel. They had the cast center. I'm suprised it doen't have any markings on the back. If you ever want to let it go let me know...for obvious reasons.
Clark

 

I can help you with getting some caps on those. I'll still take those wheels if you wanna sell them, rusty rims isn't a problem
Jimmy

 

Any idea on these? Ive had this as a trailer and before I trash it I wanted to know if they may be worth something. It has the frame, rear, drive shaft, looks to be a military vehichle
rear002.jpg

 

those look like standard Ford "wide five" wheels (1936-1939) to me. anyway, dont trash them, I'm sure someone will want them.

 

i have a set that came off a 37 plmouth you can tell if there are off a plymouth buy looking where it mounts, there will be a set of little holes for the pins on the drums to line up the wheels because the plmouth has stud lug bolts , they fit my ford .they have a stamp on them look s like two R back to back and a big E stamped in them with a little 5 in the E and then it says patten end

 

Well what rear would be in here? This this must be a complete frame all but front suspension. The drive shaft looks like a farm pto, the yoke has a collar like the dog just lost his nuts and has to wear that funnel. Also did they make tilt beds? this has a cylinder on either side of the inner frame rail that has a 3/4" nut that turns. well heres a pic of the rear
rear001.jpg (35.3 KB)