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

12.5 cm

Height

4.4 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

Nordyke Marmon

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Indiana

City

Indianapolis

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

Daniel Marmon and Addison Nordyke established the Nordyke and Marmon Company in 1851 in Richmond, Indiana, which originally manufactured millstones. In the 1870s, the company moved to Indianapolis where it became one of the leading manufacturers of milling machinery. Walter and Arthur Marmon joined their father at Nordyke and Marmon and in 1902 the company produced its first automobile designed by Arthur. In 1926, the name of the company changed to Marmon Motor Car Company. In 1931, Walter partnered with Arthur D. Herrington to form the Marmon-Herrington Company, which formed the truck division of the Marmon Motor Car Company. The company went into receivership in 1933 as a result of the depression but Marmon-Herrington continued to produce trucks until 1964 (Brockman). 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 1920’s and 1930’s. 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

Name 'MARMON' and logo on raised central disk, name is in raised letters

Missing

N/A

Finish

Chromed surface/ condition: chrome pitted, hubcap shows signs of wear from wrench

Decoration

N/A