Can anyone identify these wheels? The hub bolt pattern looks normal and the military truck has correct looking hub caps. Would they be 16" X 4"? Thanks, Joe.

 

The only wheels I've seen having the distinctive appearance of these are the hyper-rare "high clearance", "milk truck", "rural delivery" wheels. They are 18" x 3.62", 5 x 5 1/2" bolt pattern, and having a 3.42" center hole. They are K-H #23278 and listed as "Special Equipment" under Ford 01AS 1015-A from 1940 to 1948. They were sold in set #1851. I have a 1953 K-H reference showing the 23278 was replaced by K-H 31873. It too was "Special Equipment" and listed for Mercury under numbers 8CS 1015-B and 1C 1015-A. This wheel has a slightly larger 3.62" center hole but is otherwise identically described.

If the wheels are 16"', or some other size, I'd be interested in learning more about them. Since I suspect they are K-H I doubt you'll find numbers on them. But if you do I'd appreciate knowing. Stu

Edit - here's a close up of one. Stu

 

Thanks for the info and the photo Stu. My Canadian Chassis Catalogue covering the years 1939-1944 shows the 01AS 1015 A wheel as being used only from 40-42 on the 112"-114"-116"-118" models. Somehow I always thought that they were used on the heavier trucks. I'll post any further findings.

 

Interesting that your Canadian copy of the Chassis Catalog lists them, but my US reprint copy dated 11/50 does not. Would I be correct that no, or few, civilian cars or "commercials" were produced in Canada during the war years? Same as here. All of my civilian references to them during the war years cite 1940-1942. References from after the war again listed them available in 1946-1948.

Keep in mind too that these were "Change Over" wheels. All references cite this footnote. "Note - this wheel not used as original equipment, installed as a 'change over' after car left the factory."

I wonder too if you'd sell them to me (assuming the truck is yours) for their original retail prices? Some 1940/42 dealers listed kit 1851 for $31 or $33. A 1947 price list cites $10.50 each for #23278!

Edit - here's a set on a woodie. Stu

 

According to my Ford of Canada manuals, during the war years everything was produced except in 43-44 passenger cars were not produced. Sorry, neither the truck nor the wheels pictured are mine.

 

The US Gov't began to allow trucks to be assembled for the civilian market beginning in late 1944, but production didn't actually begin until circa July 1945 for some auto makers.

US passenger car/truck production for the civilian market ended the first week of February 1942.

AFAIK, the only cars (taxi-cabs) assembled during WWII occurred in 1943 at the Nash Motors Kenosha WI plant.

Packard during WWII made 1,000's of marine engines, over 55,000 Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engines.

All the auto making machinery had to be moved outside and while it was covered up, it was also neglected. By the end of the war, most of these machines were in terrible condition.

This occurred with all the auto makers and while the Marshall Plan rebuilt Germany & Japan, it did not nothing for US factories, that were in terrible condition by the end of the war.

 

We should have bombed our own factories! (only half joking)