Vintage Wheel Tool

[Eldovert]

I am not sure what you call these..looks like the tool to draw in the wheel band on older wheels $75.00 or offer

[1937-44]

I think most of us probably call it a rim spreader. Carl

[Eldovert]

Thanks Carl

[paulrhd29nz]

Hi Pat,

PM sent.

[jim43]

Is there any way that the single piece on the end could be reversed? ( screwed on the other way) If that can be reversed and the other two ends are folded back it looks like it could be a tire spreader. Fit the ends to the inside of the opposite beads of the tire and crank it open so one could install a "boot" in the tire. Modern real tire shops have units that grab both beads all the way around and pull the beads away from each other. You can then stick your head in and rotate the tire around and fully inspect the inside of the tire for breaks or nails etc. Of course it is much easier to install a boot too. These things go back many decades, probably to the 20s or 30s, but are still an important tool in any tire shop where actual work is done on tires.

The blue tool looks like it could be an early tool for use while on the road when tire trouble was an everyday occurrence.

Jim43

[Bill Boudway]

Hi,

It's actually a rim "unspreader". It clamps onto a split rim and pulls one side in to reduce the diameter and allow for tire removal. Then it can be reversed to spread the rim back into the tire.

Not fun, but it works.

[huptoy]

This is a portable tire changer tool and can be used on the road. They come in different sizes. Most cars with wood (split) rims from the middle 10's to the mid 30 used these.

They work fine to make the rim smaller in diameter to put boot, inter tube, and tire on rim. When they are on the rim, spread rim out and inflate.

I installed 7 new tires on car rims with my rim tool. Only took about 20 minutes or so a tire.

Edited February 28, 2012 by huptoy (see edit history)