A few months back I picked up 2 different Model A rolling ch***is and just recently started going over them to figure out what I have. Just this past week I started tearing into the two to swap the parts I want to keep, and to sort out the parts I'll be taking to the swap meet next weekend. I didn't pay attention to the wheels when I bought all of this stuff, as I'm not well versed in what's what when it comes to early wires, but I soon came to realize that 1 of the wire wheels I have is a '35 16" wire, and 3 of the wheels appear to be a Model A center on 16" rims. Was this ever offered as an optional wheel or aftermarket or is this some old home made hot rod ****? I'm confused.
It is my understanding that during WW II is was difficult to get any tires especially odd sizes like 19 inch and people did this to be able to use 16 inch tires. A good question for fordbarn. Charlie Stephens
There was a jig sold that helped welding shops do this so they're pretty common. The taller tires were hard to get post-war.
About 2 years ago I bought two 16" tires at a swap meet and they were both mounted on 16" Model A wheels just like you pictured. I figured they were home modified but it was a nice job. I never used the wheels, just the tires so I don't know how true they were.
I never knew there was a jig made for shops to do this conversion. I always just figured it was ingenuity and resourcefulness.
I found someone with a single wheel for sale that matches my set of 3, so I've struck a deal to have a matching set of 4. Who knows if I'll actually use them, but that's a decision for another time.
I have picked up quite a few of those for a friend of mine. He runs them on his '29 pickup. Seems the huge majority of them are '28-'29 with only a very few '30-'31 like you posted, at least that I have found. Dave
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