Kelsey Hayes Wheels

I found six wire wheels at a swap meet and ***umed they were 40 bent spoke Kelsey Hayes. When I counted the spokes there were 36. My 1940 wheels catalog shows only one car that had 16 x 4", 5 x 5.5" wire wheels - 1935 Ford. But I understood that these were 40 spoke. Anyone know about the 36 vs. 40 spoke disparity?

 

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Your wheels are not Kelseys but made by American Wheel Company. They were the 36 spoke variety and were bent spokes like the Kelseys. Still cool looking wheels.

 

If I'm not mistaken, Henry (ford) was still farming out alot of parts in the 30's. I have been told Ford made wheels, as well as Budd, Motor spoke and rim, Kelsey, and who knows who else. It is a good possibility one of them made 36 spoke wheels. Jimmy Or Gary would know at Rallye America. Gary has probably forgot more about wheels than I'll ever know. I'd start there.