General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

N/A

Width

8.8 cm

Height

2.2 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Motorized Ground Transportation

Category

Automotive parts

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

American Motors

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Wisconsin

City

Kenosha

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Hub caps are collectors' items.

Function

Cover put on automobile wheels to enhance its aesthetic appearance or aerodynamism and to protect the wheel bolts from mud and dust.

Technical

The Nash Motor Car Company was an automobile manufacture that was established in 1916 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The founder of the company was Charles W. Nash, who purchased the Thomas B. Jeffery Company, originally a bicycle manufacturer from Chicago; after the company moved to Kenosha they started producing automobiles and was known for its Rambler model. In 1916, the Jeffery family sold the company to Nash and the first Nash automobiles were produced in 1917. The company was one of the top automobile manufacturers by 1926. Nash was also one of the largest truck manufacturers in the country as a result of a contract with the U.S. Army during World War I. Nash automobiles were so successful that it became the official state car for Governor Julius P. Heil. In 1932, the company introduced their Nash Ambassador models, which were produced until 1957; the line earned the nickname "Kenosha Duesenburgs" for their quality. In 1958, the Philleo Nash Rambler was used on the campaign trail for Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Philleo Nash. In the middle of the 20th century, Nash was part of a merger that formed American Motors, which was an important manufacturer in the auto industry (Wisconsin Historical Society). Originally, hub caps date back to the horse-drawn era and afterwards to the first automobiles when wheels were made of wooden spokes connected to the center hub. The hub contained the wheel bearing, which was packed with grease. The hub cap was a small device used to cover the center hub to keep the dust out and the grease in. Eventually, car manufacturers replaced the wooden spokes with steel wire spokes in the 1920s and 1930s. As a result the hub cap evolved into a wheel cover, which is a large disc that covers most of the wheel. Wheel covers continue to serve a functional purpose but they have also become a decorative design feature of the wheel.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Double rings stamped into edge of hubcap; painted black center of hubcap depressed in dish shape stippled surface contains logo and name 'NASH' in raised letters, black paint used in logo, raised bar above and below name.

Missing

N/A

Finish

Polished metal surface/ black paint used in decorative details

Decoration

N/A