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History Need help to ID unknown Magnesium spindle mount wheels

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 54popular, Nov 29, 2016.

  1. 54popular
    Joined: Dec 17, 2005
    Posts: 85

    54popular
    Member

    Scored on this set of spindle mount wheels at a swap meet this past weekend for $300. I know they are magnesium and they measure 17" x 1 3/4". Interestingly they have not been drilled for valve stems but the rest of the wheel is finish machined. I believe they are NOS. I have never seen another pair like them. They do not have a name cast in anywhere. The only thing I could find is a very small logo... smaller than the size of a dime. Looks like a circle with an inset star set on top of a flag/banner. Any ideas?

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

  2. hotroddon
    Joined: Sep 22, 2007
    Posts: 28,240

    hotroddon
    Member

    1 3/4" wide ??? Really? Sounds like a motorcycle wheel
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  3. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,376

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    I'm thinking it's a MW on its side....so my guess is Motorwheel...similar logo in this ad
     

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    Just Gary likes this.
  4. ididntdoit1960
    Joined: Dec 13, 2011
    Posts: 1,432

    ididntdoit1960
    Member
    from Western MA

    Will it fit an Anglia spindle? That is the only way I could see them being worth anything. are the measurements at the bead or total? Even if they fit an Anglia spindle, they could only be run on a dragster based on the tire limitation....If the wheels are exactly alike and you bought them in a pair, it would be odd that they are motorcycle...
     
  5. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 22,588

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    The spokes resemble the Cobra Halibrands but elongated.
     
  6. Motorcycle/moped/scooter wheel - probably a thin-wall die casting, looks like it could be from one of the many asian bike manufacturers and probably not robust enough to take the load if adapted to run on the front of a car.

    Steve
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  7. If it's a motorcycle wheel, where are the provisions for brakes or a drive sprocket? Could be a wheel for a motorcycle trailer (for towing behind a bike) as I have seen some oddball cast wheels on more than a few trailers. Or could even be an industrial cart wheel. I'll agree, it doesn't look automotive-related...
     
  8. i think motorcycle wheel but what do i know
     
  9. Just Gary
    Joined: Oct 9, 2002
    Posts: 5,832

    Just Gary
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

  10. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,376

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Yes....Motorwheel made all sorts of wheels....OE....and mags in aluminum and magnesium...cars and motorcycle..
     
  11. hotroddon
    Joined: Sep 22, 2007
    Posts: 28,240

    hotroddon
    Member

    Since it hasn't been drilled for a valve stem a**** other things the hub surface could still be waiting to be drilled for the sprocket and brake. That small of a wheel it would probably be for a moped type bike.
     
  12. rooman
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,045

    rooman
    Member

    The wheels on the front of my dragster are only 1 1/4" wide (1969 Don Long)

    Roo
     
  13. If the bearing bore is the same on both sides,, it's probably MC stuff
     
  14. hotroddon
    Joined: Sep 22, 2007
    Posts: 28,240

    hotroddon
    Member

    Really? What diameter? tire size must be TINY
     
  15. rooman
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,045

    rooman
    Member

    Don,
    they are the normal 17 dragster size and when I got the car they had 2.75 tires although the original fitment from Long was a 2.25 Avon. Overall diameter is 22", again pretty much the standard for dragsters.
    Jon Hansen at Hayden Wheels currently lists Akront rims at 1.20/1.4/1.6 and 1.85 widths.

    Roo
     
  16. Black Panther
    Joined: Jan 6, 2010
    Posts: 2,376

    Black Panther
    Member
    from SoCal

    Was just in a shop that builds cacklefest and retro funny cars....and he had a 1967 vintage dragster with the skinniest front wire wheels....tires had to be 3" wide max....these wheels are probably similar era dragster...
     
  17. rooman
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,045

    rooman
    Member

    A little hard to tell from the photo but the far side does appear to be smaller. For an Anglia spindle (the standard for most dragsters built after the mid 60's) the overall hub width would be approx 3" to the outside of the bearing/race registers.

    Roo
     
  18. dreracecar
    Joined: Aug 27, 2009
    Posts: 3,476

    dreracecar
    Member
    from so-cal

    Back in the twin motor gas dragster days, you could not run spoke wheels and had to run cast wheels. the cars were set up for the 17" rim and up until now the only thing you saw was the 12 spoke 17". Maybe somebody was trying to get into the very small market with this one. Finished or not -- it was a good score on those wheels for that price
     
  19. hotroddon
    Joined: Sep 22, 2007
    Posts: 28,240

    hotroddon
    Member

    Thanks. I used to own a motorcycle wheel company, hence my curiosity. A 2.75 is way too big for a 1.25" rim, the 2.25 is better for sure. The Akront's are of course designed for motorcycles so the skinny rim makes sense there.
     
  20. lucky ink
    Joined: Feb 18, 2011
    Posts: 371

    lucky ink
    Member

  21. rooman
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,045

    rooman
    Member

    Any suggestions as to why someone would go to the trouble of making real magnesium wheels ($$$) for mopeds which are generally a cut price version of a motorcycle? I guess that there are most likely people who race mopeds (probably in Europe or Japan) but these wheels were found in the good old USA.

    If the OP could post the bearing register sizes we may have a better chance of figuring out if they were meant for Anglia (or early Ford) spindles.

    Roo
     
  22. rooman
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,045

    rooman
    Member

    Bruce, all of the narrow dragster 12 spokes that I have seen have been 18". The rule that affected the doubles was the one that put an 1800 lb cap on the weight of cars with laced spoke wire wheels--no mention of front end weight, just overall.

    Roo
     
  23. 54popular
    Joined: Dec 17, 2005
    Posts: 85

    54popular
    Member

    Rooman, I'll be home soon to measure them. They are a sand cast wheel though, not die cast. And both are 17" diameter.

    Sent from my SM-G930V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  24. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 22,588

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    I guess "moped" means different things to different people , either way, I just don't see 17" sand cast magnesium wheels on any kind of moped.
    They look lightweight and strong, and if nothing else, I'd keep them just for wall hangers.
     
  25. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    I wish I had photo-shop skills like Moose, I'd love to photoshop these onto the Mooneyham and Sharp and post it. These guys would all go nuts...:rolleyes:
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2016
  26. rooman
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 4,045

    rooman
    Member

    Who pissed in your cornflakes George? :) Now that your "serious" post is gone I can't see which side your were on but I presume it was the moped brigade.
    You may be correct but what if these are a pair of rare wheels intended for dragster use. It is not going to hurt to have the OP measure the bearing registers as they do appear to be different sizes in the one photo that he posted. There are plenty of low volume parts floating around in drag racing's history in this country, some better known like Creitz wheels etc and some that may have ended up being one offs for various reasons. Bruce (dreracecar) works in the same field as me and if ( as cynical as he can be ) he thinks that they may be the real deal I suggest that we try to find out . Participation on your part is optional. :) :)

    Roo
    ps They would need to be 15" to work on the 554 coupe
     
    Max Gearhead and hotroddon like this.
  27. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    sorry for allowing reality to intrude into the HAMB...I don't know WHAT I could have been thinking...:rolleyes:
     
  28. dreracecar
    Joined: Aug 27, 2009
    Posts: 3,476

    dreracecar
    Member
    from so-cal

    17's on an Anglia spindle, The 18" that I have done were for Ford spindles

    100_1675.JPG
     
    turboroadster and kidcampbell71 like this.
  29. 54popular
    Joined: Dec 17, 2005
    Posts: 85

    54popular
    Member

    Okay, got some measuring done.
    The back side register is 2.035 and the front side is 1.925 with a small step in front of that for a spindle seal. Both wheels are 17" and measure 1.800" to the inside of the bead. Thoughts?

    Sent from my SM-G930V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  30. hotroddon
    Joined: Sep 22, 2007
    Posts: 28,240

    hotroddon
    Member

    Well that does tell us that they were not likely for a two wheeled conveyance - so definitely a drag race application

    More importantly do you have a 54 Pop?
     

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