32buick67 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 I had the privilege to obtain a 32 Buick chrome beauty ring, surprisingly in good shape, no rot, just surface rust. I am curious if anyone has pics of beauty rings on their prewar Buick wheels using 18" rims. Auburn, Chrysler, Graham, Stude, Willys, Dodge, Reo used similar 18" tires/wheels, but trim ring bling is tbd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 We reproduced them in stainless 20 years ago, and they sold out quickly. It fits Kelsey-Hayes drop center 18 inch wheels for Buick, Stude, Pierce, Stutz, and maybe Jordan. The others you listed use a different ring. Here they are on my car. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kar3516 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Here is an original 32 Buick Series 90 wheel with the original trim ring installed. This car had some chrome spokes as well. Virtually no chrome left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 I would love to see if I can find a place to Make extra sets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Maybe @edinmass can provide a POC for someone who was involved with the reproductions he referenced above. The key will be finding enough interest to justify another run and get the unit price somewhat reasonable. Again, Ed is probably closest to those who would be most interested in having them remade. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 4 minutes ago, EmTee said: Maybe @edinmass can provide a POC for someone who was involved with the reproductions he referenced above. The key will be finding enough interest to justify another run and get the unit price somewhat reasonable. Again, Ed is probably closest to those who would be most interested in having them remade. 20 Years ago, they were 125 bucks each, and we made 300 or 400, can't remember. They were stainless, so no chrome bill. They sold out fast......and for years people expected to be able to order them from inventory. When we did the run, we announce a one time shot.........most people don't get it. Today, they would be 300 dollars each.......on a similar run. I don't think the market will support that number today.....so a smaller run would be 500 each. That is the way of the world on almost ALL pre war parts today. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 4 minutes ago, edinmass said: Today, they would be 300 dollars each.......on a similar run. Well, that's too bad, however, I guess I'm not surprised. Today I suppose we'll need to rely on hydro-dipping 3-D printed polymer parts... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 If someone can recreate them for around 300 each I would do 6 of them . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kar3516 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 3 hours ago, BuickTom87 said: If someone can recreate them for around 300 each I would do 6 of them . I believe I have Mac Blair’s SS pattern trim ring still in brand new condition. Also found one other new one while buying parts from Jim. I believe his supplier was in Hong Kong but not sure whether they would still be viable as a supplier. I can get the address for the Hong King supplier but that may or may not be of any value Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 If you can let me know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32buick67 Posted May 9 Author Share Posted May 9 (edited) The Buick shop manual and sales literature ID the rings as stainless, trim to fit. This verbiage is only 1932.....1931, 1933-1935 don't mention trim rings. Why are chrome-plated steel rings that are close-welded for 18" rims installed on 32 wheels showing up on example cars? Anyone have a trimmed stainless 18" ring? How about a pic of a ring which was cut to fit per 1932 Buick manual Figure 125? I seem to only be able to find chrome-plated steel rings that are close-welded for the 18" rims. Learning question - anyone have pics of 18" beauty trim rings Buick or other makes?? @kar3516 can you please post a pic of the ring you have from Mac? Edited May 9 by 32buick67 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kar3516 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 @32buick67 and @BuickTom87 pictures of the two stainless rings I have from Mac Blair are below. I believe @edinmass commented elsewhere in another older thread that he and Mac worked together on the earlier run and that the first iteration wasn’t quite right and the second iteration was correct. I did not take the time to find the old thread and verify what I remember @edinmass saying; if I’m wrong please correct me. So it would have to be verified exactly what these are. The ring in the sealed bag is a separate ring from all of the other pictures which are the same ring. That ring either isn’t finished or was a prototype. Note the detail of the weld. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 When we did our run, I contacted Mac and asked if he was going to do another batch. He wasn’t interested, and we went ahead. It’s not as easy as it appears, as the wheels are not all the same dimensions. There is more variance in them than one would expect. We were fortunate and got it right the first time. Today’s problem is two tiered, one the limited amount of possible sales, and the cost of manufacturing a small run with no reasonable way to cover expenses and time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted May 9 Share Posted May 9 I still hope to find a set for sale . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32buick67 Posted May 10 Author Share Posted May 10 After doing some research I was able to find some examples of beauty trim rings, nothing conclusive on stainless vs chrome, and 1931 is kind of baffling regarding the ring gap vs 32 concentric weld. It seems the best way to procure rings today would be to find old chrome ones and replate, or somehow find the elusive stainless rings. Like Ed stated, it is not only going to be cost-prohibitive to do a low-volume production run of <500 units, but its not likely to happen at a fab shop due to their other priorities. What is more likely to get results would be hiring a body shop to make one vehicle set of 4-6 custom rings by hand on a English wheel or similar, and it will likely be far more cost effective, and the rings will get done vs get pushed out for other priorities. 1931-96 Buick ring, note the 1/4" gap in the ring at the bottom, unknown if stainless or chrome - 32-68 - 32-60 wood - 32-96 - Mac Blair's 32-98 - 32-67 (note 1931 hubcaps fit 32 wheels) - 32-67??? - 32-96C - Its been an interesting learning path so far, I am not sure whether to keep digging for more totally useless learning info, or be pragmatic and find a way to remake these 18" rings...but my hunch says stop... My one ring is definitely factory well-formed, meaning its a progressive forming process, then with a final weld its off to plating. No way would a quality shop do that level of quality and form-fit for lower volume runs, unless they were a hand-craft shop making 10s of units for fun... On my old ring, the stamp cut and bend for the valve stem is perfect....clearly lots of trial fits to get the manufacturing correct. Neat to see that kind of quality for 30s mfg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 The first photo above is NOT a beauty ring, it’s a snap ring. Beauty rings ONLY fit drop center wheels, which basically started in 1932. We spun our rings……..out of stainless. Fun project, and we had a decent return and sold them out in less than a year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32buick67 Posted May 10 Author Share Posted May 10 2 hours ago, edinmass said: The first photo above is NOT a beauty ring, it’s a snap ring Thanks for the clarification Ed - do you happen to know if snap rings were only originally painted, chromed, stainless, etc., or were they available in all finishes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 1 hour ago, 32buick67 said: Thanks for the clarification Ed - do you happen to know if snap rings were only originally painted, chromed, stainless, etc., or were they available in all finishes? Depends on the car, year, and series. Most of the time, they were chrome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted May 28 Share Posted May 28 Still keeping my fingers crossed for one day to find a set of 6 if not I’ll consider shelling out the $ for them to be made Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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