What is The Point Of Center Caps?
Are they center caps, wheel covers or hubcaps? Is there a similarity between them? What was the reason behind them? For the most part, these types of queries probably will not cross most persons thoughts but, it does raise some curiosity.
Folks who love cars have created a love of hubcaps as well. There are actually those that say the form of the Chrysler Building gives tribute to it.
Why were they even developed? They were developed out of necessity. Before metal was used, spokes were made of wood. The hub, located in the outer rim, had to be coupled with the spoke. A grease packed wheel bearing was located inside the hub. To contain the grease and keep out dirt, a cover had to be used.
What was needed was a hub cap. So this hub cap came into being for functional causes, but they were small center caps designed to cover the hub and leave the spokes bare. The spokes built out of wood were not made for this world. They were glossed and occasionally adorned with pin-striping but they aged and cracked and didn’t glance to excellent. Automobiles with aging spokes might be heard from a distance.
Toward the end of the 20’s and 30’s, steel wire spokes were developed. Center caps were nevertheless needed. Again, the spokes were left uncovered. The thirties, practicality became second to fashion. Hubcaps were stamped while using name of the auto maker in brass or stainless steel and they were greater. Caps were supposed to be stylish; but the spokes even now showed. They were complicated to clean along with the wind noise when traveling down the road was maddening.
In 1934, Cadillac developed the first disc that covered the entire wheel. It provided a streamlined look.
Cadillac started making use of pressed steel wheels in 1938. Full sized hubcaps were used for the wheels. What is important is that Cadillac made this cover a symbol of comfort and style. It didn’t take hot rodders long to look for old Cadillac wheel covers for the 1930-1950’s customized hot rods. Those who owned Cadillac’s started having their handles stolen.
The 1970’s saw the introduction of the plastic hubcap by auto makers on their cars. During the 1980’s, steel hubcaps were all but extinct and plastic continued to be a constant. Whenever you think of plastic, easily broken and cheap is liable to come to mind. That is not true with this plastic. The plastic used on hubcaps is light weight, resilient and tough. Some lightweight hubcaps will fly right off a car. It is important to understand that auto makers produce hubcaps that are not all that wonderful either. They also come off easily. It is not enough to have all these things combined though. All hubcaps require an unyielding retention system. A 360 degree, all steel retention ring is the absolute best. It simply grabs the wheel and retains the hubcap where it sits.
Since you are now a guru when it comes to the history of the hubcap, you can wow friends at the next get together with the details that you have discovered. You may not wow them but maybe you enjoyed learning a little history that most people do not know.
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