Repro Quick take off wheels

[John L.]

I was just reviewing the Quick take off wheel info in the '65 Tech info manual and judging guide, page 79. These wheels were on the car when purchased. I'm not able to get the wheels off but I did check the backside of the spinners. The ears are marked as follows: Ear 1-LH, Ear 2-B U 4' Ear 3-U S A. other side : Ear 1-RH, Ear 2-B U 2 (other spinner B U 1) Ear 3-U S A.
Any idea who made these wheels and when?

[Wayne M.]

Re: Repro Quick take off wheels

I was just reviewing the Quick take off wheel info in the '65 Tech info manual and judging guide, page 79. These wheels were on the car when purchased. I'm not able to get the wheels off but I did check the backside of the spinners. The ears are marked as follows: Ear 1-LH, Ear 2-B U 4' Ear 3-U S A. other side : Ear 1-RH, Ear 2-B U 2 (other spinner B U 1) Ear 3-U S A.
Any idea who made these wheels and when?

John -- I bought a set of used KO's off eBay about 4 years ago. On the back of each wheel is cast: WESTERN WHEEL CORP. - KH, 306065, 15 X 6. There are also digit and number stampings that I believe relate to the date of manufacture. I could post those but they wouldn't make much sense if you can't get the wheels off (yet).

My spinner ears are cast: LH / U3 / USA; LH / U4 / USA; RH / AU1 / USA; RH / AU1 / USA. This makes me think your wheels are also made by Western, based on the similarity of the spinner ear markings.

Kelsey Hayes made the original production KO's, and I believe they formed Western Wheel Corp. for aftermarket sales.

[John L.]

Re: Repro Quick take off wheels

Now that you mention Western Wheel, I believe I remember seeing that on the back of the wheels when I had them off several years ago. So these could have been made in the '70's or 80's?

[Wayne M.]

Re: Repro Quick take off wheels

Now that you mention Western Wheel, I believe I remember seeing that on the back of the wheels when I had them off several years ago. So these could have been made in the '70's or 80's?

John -- I don't think anybody was making a repro KO wheel (other than those polyurethane imitation wheelcovers ) before at least 1976, 'cause that's when the General's stock of rims, adapters, spinners were well depleted. I'd guess these Western's were made in the early '80s .

I attach a thumbnail of the inside of one of my wheels, showing a sticker that was on two of them. And, I copied the stampings found on the exterior backside (one line represents what I found on each wheel, 2 stampings per wheel). If anyone can figure them out it'd be much appreciated.

[John L.]

Re: Repro Quick take off wheels

When these Western wheels are judged, do they take the same points hit as the current Taiwan repros? They are USA made, possibly as a sub division of Kelsey-Hayes for the after market.