1909-1917 Rim Nuts

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Original Smith
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1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Original Smith » Fri Feb 07, 2020 3:41 pm

Perhaps you will recall the article I wrote a few months ago for the Model T Times on valve stem hardware. Here is more data from my collection. The early round serrated rim nuts had a very thin gasket on top for the valve stem dust cover to seat against. I only have two examples of this. The gasket is the same O.D. as the bottom of the dust cover, and appears to be about .006" thick. It could be leather or paper. The other gasket is for the bottom of the rim nut, and is 11/16" O.D., and 7/16" I.D., and is about .100" thick.
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Greg Griffin
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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Greg Griffin » Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:05 pm

Thanks Larry. I like this stuff.


KimDobbins
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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by KimDobbins » Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:48 pm

Larry and I have discussed this before. If all model Tvars used these round rim nuts, then why are they so hard to find? The hex rim nuts are all over!


Topic author
Original Smith
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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Original Smith » Sat Feb 08, 2020 12:10 am

Kim: My answer to your question is: Tires and tubes were replaced so often, way back, the original hardware was discarded and replaced with the current variations at the time.
It's kind of like the hide'em welt tips on the 22-27 roadster and tourings. When a top was replaced, the trimmer tossed the original Ford tips, and replaced them with the generic ones. Therefore, you rarely find them.


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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Allan » Sat Feb 08, 2020 6:04 am

Kim, I have one early round knurled one if you want it. I offered it to Larry but he declined.

Allan from down under.


Topic author
Original Smith
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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Original Smith » Sun Feb 09, 2020 10:26 am

If you look closely at one of my photos, you will see there is a gasket for the dust cover too. I only have two examples of this. I was able to duplicate this gasket from a very thin piece of patent leather I bought at Chickasha a few years ago. I.D. 7/16, O.D. 9/16".


KimDobbins
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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by KimDobbins » Sun Feb 09, 2020 11:08 am

Thanks Alan, sure I'd like to get it! Larry, your explanation makes sense, but there are quite a few early brass schrader dust covers still around. As well as Lots of straight sided champion plugs from the same time period.


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Original Smith
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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Original Smith » Mon Feb 10, 2020 9:44 pm

Kim: Read my post above again! I've been onto this subject for years, and that is the conclusion I've arrived at. I have those rim nuts on all of my '13s and they are wonderful. They are hard to find, and that is why Dan McEachern is now making them. I don't think he has them in his catalog yet, but they are available from him at $18 each. I think he may be including the rim nut felloe washer with them, but I don't know for sure.


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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Sheri » Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:10 am

All the hex examples seem to have a 1917 patent date on them and the round ones by schroeder are patented 1907 or something really early. Thats why the hex ones are easy to find. They came later. It is my opinion that all examples were nickel plated. I have never found any without some trace of nickel on them. Since all these parts are just carryovers from bicycle hardware the nickel makes sense. They nickel plated everything on early bikes.

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FreighTer Jim
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Sounds reasonable

Post by FreighTer Jim » Tue Feb 11, 2020 9:51 am

Hi Sheri,

That sounds reasonable 😉

Thank You for posting 👍


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Topic author
Original Smith
Posts: 3284
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Number: 121
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MTFCI Number: 16310

Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Original Smith » Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:20 am

I have over a dozen of the rim nuts that are posted above. Some are brass, and some are brass, nickel plated, and all of them are authentic originals. I have them on both of my 13's too. I would like to believe Marks opinion, but I can't judging from the number of originals I have. What I would really like to know is if Schrader made a special tool for tightening them? Many of the examples I have, the knurl is pretty chewed up from the use of pliers.


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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Erik Johnson » Tue Feb 11, 2020 10:39 am

I'm not a member of the MTFCI so I did not get the magazine so I apologize if the following was covered in your article.

The June 1917 "Rip Van Winkle" touring and my father's July 1917 touring had the dust cover and solid hex nut shown in the thread below. The solid nuts are hard to find.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/50 ... 1430686908

Both cars were most likely assembled at the Minneapolis plant because the Rip Van Winkle touring was originally owned by a gentleman in Center City, MN, 40 miles northeast of Minneapolis, and my father's touring was originally sold in and owned by a resident of Buffalo, MN, 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis.


Topic author
Original Smith
Posts: 3284
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
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Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Number: 121
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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Original Smith » Tue Feb 11, 2020 11:06 am

I'll keep my eyes open for the cast rim nuts. I have a '17 coupelet that would use the same rim nut. If you look at the one pictured in a previous post, it clearly shows a recess in the bottom of the rim nut like the ones Dan is now making. That indicates to me, that it most likely uses the same leather washer between the rim nut and the felloe.


Dan McEachern
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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Dan McEachern » Thu Feb 13, 2020 12:17 am

Here is a picture of the Rim nuts that we just completed a batch of. I have to thank Larry for the loan of his original.
rim nuts 2.jpg


Topic author
Original Smith
Posts: 3284
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:43 am
First Name: Larry
Last Name: Smith
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
Location: Lomita, California
MTFCA Number: 121
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Re: 1909-1917 Rim Nuts

Post by Original Smith » Thu Feb 13, 2020 10:48 am

We all owe Dan a huge thank you for making those. He spent hours doing this project for the hobby. He didn't do it for me either, because I have a lot of originals. He did it for those who have early Model T's, and other cars. He is asking $18 each for them.

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