Re: [HSS] Whitcomb aluminum wheels

Unknown

In a message dated 1/4/03 12:31:42 AM, fwcobabe@hotmail.com writes:



<< Does anyone have information about Whitcomb aluminum wheels? I am

buying 1926 Hudson that appears to heve these. Were they an option,

aftermarkert item? >>



Good question! Speculation - Hudson almost certainly did not supply them

from the factory. I have not seen them in Hudson lit anywhere. They perhaps

would have been a dealer or garage installed item. Maybe it is even likely

they were installed by tire dealers much as custom rims are today. I think

there is a scan of a catalog picture ad for these wheels in the Files section

of this list.

We would be very interested in having some pics of this car in the Files

section. Please feel free to post some and let us know when they are up. Pics

of your wheels would be especially welcomed!

One of the reasons that steel disk wheels took so long to become popular

is weight. Whether pressed or cast, disk wheels were heavy! This caused

problems in several areas. First, they increased the weight of the car and

therefor decreased it's performance. Second, they added weight in just the

wrong spot - on the unsuspended axles that needed to be controlled by the

road springs and later, by the dampers. This meant that a car equipped with

artillery wheels would most likely be able to travel faster over the rough

roads of the time. Lastly, the extra weight would most likely have lead to

faster wear of steering and suspension bits and may have even been tougher on

the driver by increasing the work load fighting gyroscopic forces with the

steering wheel.

In spite of all of these problems, some makers used the steel disk wheels

as standard or optional items on thier line. Packard and Nash come to mind. I

suspect that the selling point was strength and style. As the Twenties

"roared" style became a very important issue for carmakers. By 1926, Hudsons

Super Six would have been looking a bit dated and maybe even something more

to the stodgy side. Disk wheels might zip a Hudson up pretty good!

Your AL disk wheels would have retained the smart appearance so important

in the competitive middle twenties while retaining the light weight so

valuable in other areas. We can only guess if strength and price might have

been issues in keeping an otherwise very attractive product from becoming an

industry standard.

Please let us know if you find any additional details about these rarely

heard of wheels. Let's not forget the car! Condition, body style, degree of

originality and other details would interest a great many of us. Hudson Super

Six cars are our special passion here.







Paul O'Neil, Hudson29@aol.com

Fullerton, California USA

www.aerostamp.com



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