Kelsey Hayes Dates?????
I have restored at least 10 sets of Kelsey Hayes Knock Off wheels over the past 20 years or so, with 6 sets within the last year, so I feel I know the wheels pretty well and can easily spot the unique characteristics of an OEM wheel. I have restored sets as I would buy them, that I was told came off the same car, so believed the sellers to a high degree-maybe that was a mistake. So, I had not paid too much attention to the dates. In the last year or so, I really started to pay attention and over and over again the match of these sets seemed to be the alpha character as being the match; therefore, I assumed was the month. However, in checking the archives-I learned that perhaps the alpha is not the month, but rather the "shift" or "line" representation, with the number characters being month, day, year. This assumption was coming from folks that I have come to respect their opinion within this discussion board, so I thought I had been wrong all these years.
I presently have 4 matched sets and another set I have put together from singles. The matched sets of 65's seem to be fairly consistent: B 3 15 5 (note just a 5 for the year on 2 of the wheels, while the other 3 have 65) or another set C61565. The B set has spacing as I have indicated, but the C set does not have any spacing between the characters. The B set does not appear to have been stamped with a holder, but the C wheels were (a curiosity is 1 wheel has the C upright w/all of the numbers upside down). Then I have singles of 65 dated wheels that contain E,F, and H as the alpha.
I have a couple of 66 sets, which vary slightly: J 21 65, and A 1 21 66/A 18 66/ A 18 (no year), (note the 1 after the A on 1 wheel, but not the others in that set (spacing as I have indicated).
My questions up for discussion: if the alpha is the shift or line or whatever; why would there be E,F,G,H or J used as the alpha? And, why would some dates use a number (month?) after the alpha/and some not; then numbers for day and some with and some without the year or complete year? I had come to the conclusion that the alpha was the month, if there was a number after the alpha, it was perhaps a shift or inspector or finisher ID, then the day and year. What I can not explain with the first number (if there is one) why the number could be as high as 6 or 8 as I have seen them-I guess this would make sense if it is the month, but I have never seen this number to be greater than 8 (so, did they not make wheels from September to December?). I believe the dates have more to do with when the wheel was finished rather than when it was cast. Why I say that is: on every other dated piece (metal or aluminum): changeable dates/characters were placed in the mold and cast into the piece, but those few pieces that have stamped dates were stamped on the day they were finished i.e., aluminum distributor housings or carbs vs. when they were cast.
I would truly like to learn more about the dates of these wheels, so I can better explain to my customers what they are buying, so any and all input is appreciated.
Mike Zamora
#12455
I presently have 4 matched sets and another set I have put together from singles. The matched sets of 65's seem to be fairly consistent: B 3 15 5 (note just a 5 for the year on 2 of the wheels, while the other 3 have 65) or another set C61565. The B set has spacing as I have indicated, but the C set does not have any spacing between the characters. The B set does not appear to have been stamped with a holder, but the C wheels were (a curiosity is 1 wheel has the C upright w/all of the numbers upside down). Then I have singles of 65 dated wheels that contain E,F, and H as the alpha.
I have a couple of 66 sets, which vary slightly: J 21 65, and A 1 21 66/A 18 66/ A 18 (no year), (note the 1 after the A on 1 wheel, but not the others in that set (spacing as I have indicated).
My questions up for discussion: if the alpha is the shift or line or whatever; why would there be E,F,G,H or J used as the alpha? And, why would some dates use a number (month?) after the alpha/and some not; then numbers for day and some with and some without the year or complete year? I had come to the conclusion that the alpha was the month, if there was a number after the alpha, it was perhaps a shift or inspector or finisher ID, then the day and year. What I can not explain with the first number (if there is one) why the number could be as high as 6 or 8 as I have seen them-I guess this would make sense if it is the month, but I have never seen this number to be greater than 8 (so, did they not make wheels from September to December?). I believe the dates have more to do with when the wheel was finished rather than when it was cast. Why I say that is: on every other dated piece (metal or aluminum): changeable dates/characters were placed in the mold and cast into the piece, but those few pieces that have stamped dates were stamped on the day they were finished i.e., aluminum distributor housings or carbs vs. when they were cast.
I would truly like to learn more about the dates of these wheels, so I can better explain to my customers what they are buying, so any and all input is appreciated.
Mike Zamora
#12455