VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Wooden spoked wheels

Hi
I put the following query on the 29-32 section, but got no answer. I think that maybe there is more information about this in this section, so please advise!

Hi,
I have wooden spoked wheels on my 1930 SR. They were, apparently, still an optional extra in 1930.
They are currently varnished and I wonder about either re-varnishing or whether painting them is an option. I plan to repaint the car in the winter and most colour schemes have the wheels in a contrasting colour, which is not so easy with wooden spokes. I had not even considered painting them, but saw a 1928 Dodge where the wheels were painted.
Does anyone have any ideas on the subject?
_________________________
PeterW

Perhaps searching photos on the internet would help. I have seen both painted and plain spokes on various cars, but have no idea how Chevrolet supplied them from the factory. The Pictorial History of Chevrolet book shows an Essex, Whippet, Plymouth and Desoto with wood wheels and all appear painted, though the photos are black and white so I can not be sure. They mention wood as an option, but do not specify whether painted or plain.

Peter,
Opinions on the treatment of wood spokes are kind of like
noses-- we all have one. Ideally, you treat them as Chevy
intended for your year. But if they are quite dry-weathered
a coating of linseed oil will help preserve them untill you make up your mind to re-varnish or paint. Once you paint the warm
natural wood look is gone. It's a devil to remove the paint
and the old worn varnished surface has to be well roughed up
for good paint adhesion.
To me, glossy varnished wheels say "this is a classy vintage
ride". Thats my nose-er opinion and my '26 is au natural.
Dan

Thanks for coming back. My own gut feel is for varnish, but is just wondered after seeing the Dodge.

One of the wood wheel gurus in our area says to never paint or seal the END of the spokes as they poke through the fello. He says that will make them dry rot because it traps moisture in them. Out side is okay but not the ends. In the service bulletins there is an add for wood wheels that could be installed by the dealer. We had the wood wheels on our car replaced because wood that old gets very brittle.

In the "Standard Catalog of CHEVROLET 1912 - 2003" (by John Gunnell), 1930 is the last year that wood spokes were offered as an option. Wire spoke wheels were also an option that year.

My '28 AB Canopy Express has wood spokes. One of the spectators at a car show, who was a retired painter, said that it was common for him to have a tub of Boiled Linseed Oil mixed with thinner 50/50 in his shop to treat these spoked wheels.

Based on that info, I dunked my wheels in such a mixture and left them in a galvanized tub to soak for one week per wheel.

You can see a picture of my wheels here:

http://www.photosmarin.com/tinlizees

Cheers, Dean

Regarding the "Standard Catalog of Chevrolet", unfortunately, the best thing to do with that book is to throw it in the trash can.

The spokes would have been painted black as well as clamps and rims. If you want a different look then treating them with boiled linseed oil is better than varnish.