Foreign Plymouth caps, you be the judge?

Picked these up awhile ago because they were different and still can't place exactly what they are.

 

The lettering is only two letters ("n" and "u") that are alternating, so I doubt it spells "Plymouth" in any language. The logo is pretty damn close, though.

On google and ask, "nununun" means something in Thai, so maybe it's a hubcap from a Thai-built vehicle of some kind.

 

china men made it ??

 

Those are replacement hubcaps that were sold by Pep Boys back in the fifties. I think it had to do with licensing issues that prevented them from embossing Plymouth on them so the had a close proximity. They were usually quite a bit cheaper than the real thing.

 

Or JC Whitney, too. They sold caps that were "close" to the factory units.

 

It's a US-made 'trademark beater' cap. Let's say it was 1950 and you wanted to sell aftermarket hubcaps to match common ones, but didn't want to get the Chrysler Motor Company on your tail. You would make hubcaps like this for the Plymouth, and ones that say D O D C 3 (approx). for the Dodge. Interesting but not that valuable. I've seen pics before over on the p15-d24 forum.

 

I figured if it was copyright infringement issues they would have just left the lettering off and only put the boat. Why would they waste the money in the stamping process to put extra stuff on if they didnt need it. I kinda figured they were Plymouth from the boat but was a little unsure. About what range of years do they fit? -Drew

 

The Ford ones had a script word that looked a great deal like a real Ford script, but actually contained a string of letters and non-letter wavy lines that seemed to decode into something like "Bool". Whover came up with the imprints was pretty skillful...they looked right til you really concentrated.

 

I have a set of Ford caps that say O O O O instead of F O R D.

Here's a picture of one on a wheel....

 

Maybe you have them upside down" ununun"

i like em do ya have 4 of em!

 

I have a few odd singles along those lines, too. Wasn't there one that said "FOOD" or "FOOO" as well?

 

I thing the ones for Ford shoulda said Forged......They were available in lots of places Western Auto, Sear, etc.

 

I'm hoping to find some Bool or OOOO caps for my '35 wires. So cool.

 

Model a hubcaps said FURD to avoid problems.

 

I saw some listed as 'could be rare misprints' on that famous e-bid site.
I know there are people who can't spell, but this is more likely a copyright thing.

 

Years ago there was a BIG_G_G_G_G_G_G warehouse in Jacksonville FL which was a treasure trove of old aftermarket stuff including hundreds, or maybe even thousands of Model A "Bool" hubcaps. There were many other sin onesys and twoseys but there were case sand cases of the Model As. They were a major distributor and manufacturer of aftermarket mechanical and body and trim and accessory parts for cars from the 30s-late 50s. When we got in there it turned out that others, biggest name Dennis Carpenter, had been going in and out for years and years buying stuff and running it for sale in Hemmings Motor News. While we were chacking out Dennis showed up and was not happy to see we were buying ALL of many things he had been cherry picking for years (40 Chevrolet rocker panels, 49 Plymouth Bumper bolts, stainless and chrome body and fender and rocker mouldings for many makes and other things). What did we pay...the price on the inventory cards from the late 50s when they closed the big operation and remained open as a regular auto parts store up front. The building was one square block in the warehouse district.
We filled our Dodge box van and went on to Carlisle PA for the meet there. Did quite well.

 

It's kind of cool how that font they used for N looks the same as the U when it's upside down.