MTFCA Forum

Does anyone have any information about this wheel I picked up , is it for a T ? Where would I source a key for it ?
Thanks

I have a Spencer steering wheel that was on my Grandfathers 24 Coupe. I’ll look in my shop tomorrow to see if it’s identical to yours. When I was restoring the car several years ago I took it off and used an original T steering wheel. I was going to use it but didn’t because I couldn’t find anyone who could repaint or reproduce the name tag. .I still may clean the Spencer wheel up and use it because my Grandfather did. I’m kind of sentimental about it I guess.
I don’t have a key for it either. I think mine is a lock wheel and not a fat man steering wheel.

A good, older, experienced locksmith can "impression" a key. I've had it done before. The problem is, there aren't many of those "good, older, experienced" locksmiths with us any more !

Spencer made fatman steering wheels for almost any car, in a variety of styles and sizes. Some folded up and above for if the car's control levers were below the steering wheel. Others, dropped down surrounding the steering column for cars with control levers above the steering wheel.
Yours is a special version made specifically for the model T Ford, positioning the rim of the steering wheel in line with the gear case for better steering control and close to the spark and throttle levers so that they can be reached easily by fingers without removing your hands from the wheel. These are fairly rare, although I think I have seen as many crawling out of the woodwork in the recent year or two as I have seen in the fifty years before!

I do have one of these, except mine is in much worse condition. One of the spider ends is broken where the wooden rim should be attached, The wooden rim is missing, as is also the entire cast iron base centerpiece. I have considered restoring it, and am certain I could. But I don't have a car I would want to use it on, and I have two nice fatman wheels if a car came along for me to need one.

Those name badges are often in poor condition. I don't know if those have been reproduced or not, or how many variations in printing and size they may have used?

Thank you for the information

Here’s the Spencer lock wheel that I have. It was on the 24 Coupe my Grandfather bought in the early 40’s.
I’m wondering what kind of wood it’s made of. It’s complete but no key. I’m still thinking it’s just a locking wheel and not a fat man wheel. There is no mechanism thats moves or folds that I can see. I started to take the rim apart and glue the pieces back together years ago since the wood seemed solid. Anybody know how the pieces were secured together originally? Looks like the steering wheel is identical to the one Travis posted.

I was looking at mine tonight , and agree that it doesn’t seem to be any way to swivel it , I also agree they’re pretty much the same wheel

Be careful with those “Locking Wheels “. Cause most don’t lock they unlock. They make the steering wheel free wheel. As no control. Some can unlock at highway speed. Happened to someone in our club many years ago. He ended inside down in a ditch. Dan

Found this info for the Lock and Tilting version on Google Books:

That is fantastic information, mine is just a locking wheel then ! Thanks again !