Moon rear axle year of mfg and application

[alsfarms]

I will attach a few pictures of a Moon rear axle I have acquired. I know little about Moon and would to learn what year or years and model this Columbia rear axle was used in. I also assume that Columbia likely provided rear axles for other makes as well. If you are familiar with Moon, Columbia rear axles and the type of disc wheels used, I am ready to learn.

Al

Edited Sunday at 11:01 PM by alsfarms
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[Rod P]

Hi Alsfarms, Yes Columbia rear axles used in Columbia, and also made for anyone else who wanted one.

 

Obviously. Moon manufactured 1906-1930.

 

I have a question for you, please?

 

Are there any numbers stamped on the front top of the centre part of the axle housing, (diff side),or on the rear, top of the differential housing.

 

If so, they should be batch number/ year and gearing ratio. 

 

These numbers are not usually present on Columbia for Colombia used rear axles, (from limited Columbia owners I have asked that were 1923 cars), but were apparently on Columbia made to order products. 

 

Likewise, the front axle could have a parts number cast into it?

 

Below, ad 1920, from eBay.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/294953527417

 

 

 

from

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/294043014036

 

 

Edited Monday at 12:40 AM by Rod P
extra info (see edit history)

[Rod P]

If no luck on forum, next step maybe 

 

https://mooncarclub.com/about.html

[sagefinds]

Al,

  I had a Columbia rear axle one time and sold to a guy that said it was correct for his CASE car.

[alsfarms]

Hello Rod and thanks for your response. I wonder when Columbia went from mechanical brakes to hydraulic? The Columbia rear axle has hydraulic not mechanical brakes.

Al

Edited Monday at 12:51 AM by alsfarms
Clarity (see edit history)

[alsfarms]

Steve, Did the Columbia rear axle you had, have mechanical or hydraulic brakes?

Al

[Rod P]

Moon wasn’t the first car to have hydraulic brakes. they were invented in 1918 by Malcolm Lougheed (later changed to Lockheed), and the fist car to come out with four-wheel hydraulic brakes was the Model A Dusenberg, in 1921. The new feature in the Moon’s hydraulic brakes was that the shoes were on the outside of the drum!External drum brakes were not new, Ransom E. Olds invented and tested them in 1902, but the Moon cars,in 1924, were one of the first external hydraulic brakes.(THere’s more information about  this in the GREAT CARS OF THE GREAT PLAINS,figure  5-7.)

 

From http://waynesbs.com/2010/03/moon-motor-cars-1906-to-1929/

[sagefinds]

1 hour ago, alsfarms said:

Steve, Did the Columbia rear axle you had, have mechanical or hydraulic brakes?

Al

It was many years ago but if memory serves,they were mechanical.

[Gerczak]

Kissel used Columbia axles.  As far as I can tell, externally hydraulic brakes were 1927 and earlier as my 1928 has the Columbia internally hydraulic brakes.  Also the ratio's for the axles were not very good.  My original was 5.11 (10/51) and some had a 4.45 (11/49) gear ratio.  Not that I need another spare, but where is the Moon axle located out of curiosity?

 

The gear ratio should be stamped on the top of the diff casting.  A good wire brushing and you should be able to read it.

 

I do like the solid disc wheels.

[alsfarms]

The Columbia rear axle is located in Utah. I am out of town for a couple of days then I will check on the ratio for you.

Al

[wayne sheldon]

I could be wrong, but the steel disc wheels on the Columbia/Moon? rear end do not appear to match the hubs on the front axle. The front hubs appear to be disc or maybe wire demountable wheels whereas those rear wheels used demountable rims. That said, the front axle does appear to be set up for front brakes given the sharp angle of the kingpin aiming toward the tire's center on the ground.

 

Of course lots of things are possible. The hubs could have been changed on the front axle at some time? And it is possible that the Moon hubcap is not original to the rear end? That style of hubcap with differing names or letters were used on a fair number of cars of the mid to late 1920s.Studebaker used a similar style from about 1924 to I think 1928 on some model. And my 1927 Paige 6-45 sedan has one very similar except fot Paige's unique "P" in the center. Over the years I have seen several others.

[28 Chrysler]

If I recall correctly Moon went to disk wheels in 1924 and they had the Lockheed hydraulic brakes.

 

[alsfarms]

Hello Wayne, The front axle is in fact from an early 20's Nash, no front brakes and is for use with 25" Budd disc wheels.  I am not sure of the MFG of the disc wheels on the Moon. I agree, I think the Moon rear axle is likely a 1927.

Al

[alsfarms]

Ok, today I inspected the top of the Moon rear axle housing thinking to find numbers. It is no surprise, yes I found numbers and here is what I found, from left to right: 12036 15 52 D26

I suspect that the first series of numbers equates to the serial number, 15 52 should be the gear ratio, I am unsure what the D26 means unless it was made in April of 1926. Those that are more familiar with Columbia rear axles, please Chime in.

Al

Edited Thursday at 02:40 AM by alsfarms
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