[David_Hayward (RIP)]

1937

... Wheels for the 15-cwt. trucks were of a size and type not at that time in commercial use in Canada, though they conformed to WD specifications and were especially suitable for DND requirements. A review of the Canadian automotive industry had established that there was only the Kelsey Wheel Company Limited of Windsor who were equipped to produce automotive wheels. The company was approached by the DND a short time before and quotations received for special wheels for the trucks. The Ottawa Car Manufacturing Company Limited were also given an opportunity to quote, but had not at that time done so. The quotations received indicated that production facilities of the special wheels could be established at reasonable cost. The Kelsey company were in possession of the main items required for production of the wheels but would need to make special tool equipment and the cost of the tooling would have to be absorbed in the initial order for wheels. It therefore appeared to be best to place responsibility with the vehicle manufacturing companies. Four hundred (400) wheels would be necessary to meet requirements for the 70 trucks including spares and other experimental vehicles envisaged.

The Director of Contracts at the DND then formally wrote to Ford and GM of Canada requesting quotations for 26 and 25 15-cwt. Trucks on 14 January 1938. The request included various drawings governing the design and supply of the special wheels, with a conventional style side-locking ring. It was subsequently decided that a wheel constructed of two separate steel pressings held together by bolts with countersunk heads could be supplied at a price lower than the conventional type of wheel. The companies were then asked to consider including wheels consisting of steel pressings [Type ‘B’ wheel] rather than of conventional design. New specifications were then lodged to cover the Type B wheels that Kelsey Wheel Company Limited of Windsor were prepared to quote on tooling costs and cost of supplying wheels [in quantity production]

1939:

One vehicle was to be fitted with 13.50 x 16 tyres and the other 9.00 x 16 tyres, single wheels all round. These specifications were presented to Armstrong [of GM] as an ideal to be aimed for and a formal response in writing was promised. However, Carr [Colonel Carr, DND as he then was]envisaged a difficulty with the production of the wheels for the 9.00 x 16-inch tyres as the offset required on the front axle was very large. The double-flanged wheel as produced by Kelsey [Kelsey Wheel Company Limited, Windsor, Ontario] would not meet requirements. There was however a possible solution as India had ordered on their truck the fitment of 13.50 x 16-inch tyres and had told GM that they were to proceed with the obtaining of this equipment. This item had held up the production of the truck for India for some time as it was thought initially that the fitting of a wheel of this diameter would be impossible. The standard brake drum was about 14-inches in diameter, though after further study in conjunction with Timken, it had been decided to fit an 11 to 12-inch brake drum that would take a 16-inch wheel. If the spider of such a wheel was produced then in order to convert it to use with a 9.00 x 16-inch tyre would simply require the importation of the rim from [Dunlop?] England. It was further understood that 13.50 x 16 tyres were by then obtainable in the US and that the Dominion Rubber Company Limited were also about ready to start Canadian production as well