How Did Center Caps Come Into Being?
Are they wheel covers, wheel center caps or hub caps? Are there variations in them? Why were they created? These are just some questions to ponder whether they interest you or not.
Hubcaps have gotten equally as much love as the cars they go on. Even the Chrysler Building honors hub caps with the art deco style found there.
So, how did they come around to begin with? At first, they were required. In the beginning, automobiles used wooden spokes. These spokes linked the outside rim to hub where the wheel bearing is at. The wheel bearing is packed with grease. A cover was necessary to keep the grease in and the dirt out.
A hub cap was essential. Now you know it started out as a useful item. Minor in size, it covered the center cap and left the spokes uncovered. The wooden spokes did not last extended. When they were new, they were polished and occasionally festooned utilizing pin-striping. Age mad them pin striping crack and unappealing. From a distance, autos that had old spokes were heard.
Toward the end of the 20’s & 30’s, steel wire spokes were designed. Center caps were however essential. Again, the spokes were left uncovered. The thirties, practicality became second to fashion. Hubcaps were stamped with the name of the auto maker in brass or stainless steel and they were bigger. Caps were supposed to get stylish; but the spokes even now showed. They were complicated to clean along with the wind noise when traveling down the road was maddening.
In 1934, Cadillac introduced the first disc that protected the full wheel. It furnished a streamlined look.
Cadillac started making use of pressed steel wheels in 1938. Full sized hubcaps were used for the wheels. What is critical is that Cadillac made this cover a symbol of comfort and style. It didn’t take hot rodders long to look for old Cadillac wheel covers for the 1930-1950’s customized hot rods. Individuals who owned Cadillac’s began having their covers stolen.
The 1970’s brought the introduction of the use of plastic hubcaps by automobile producers on the cars. Steel hubcaps were thrown aside during the 80’s and plastic hubcaps persisted on. Plastic automatically makes people think of cheap and easily broken pieces. That is a falacy with this plastic. The plastic used on hubcaps is weightless, resilient and robust. Some weightless hubcaps come right off a car. Keep in mind that automobile makers produce these items that are not all that perfect either. They also come off quite simply. It is not enough to have all these things combined though. All hubcaps need an unyielding retention system. A 360 degree, all steel retention ring is the absolute best. It simply holds on to the wheel and holds the hubcap in place.
Since you are now an authority when it comes to the history of the hubcap, you can wow friends at the next get together with the info that you have come to understand. You may not wow them but maybe you liked learning a little history that most people don’t know.