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

7.3 cm

Height

3.7 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

HENRY

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Michigan

City

Muskegon

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

In 1909, the Gary Motor Car Company made a deal with the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce to relocate the company from Chicago. However, the project suffered from financial problems and was reorganized into the Henry Motor Car Company. The company was named after its general manager, D. W. Henry, who was well known on the east coast for his experience in the auto business. In an unexpected turn of events, the company filed for bankruptcy in 1912 (Carlson, "Henry Ford Motor Car Company"). 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

Stamped ring (painted red) around edge of hubcap (face), stamped oval in center of hubcap (painted red) containing name 'HENRY' in raised letters.

Missing

N/A

Finish

Polished silver surface, red painted used in decorative detail/ condition: metal dented from wrench, lower part of hubcap (threads) cut away

Decoration

N/A