War Department 16” divided rim: British and Canadian manufacture

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Note that the 275mm PCD is incorrect.

For anyone considering replacement rims, the Wheel Stud PCD is 8 on 10 1/2", or 266.7mm.

Tony,
I can only quote what the War Office parts catalogue says and I looked at all the divided rims for 8 stud fixing on both 16 and 20 inch wheels and it states 275mm on all of them. It is not so much the diameter that is of interest, it is why it was measured in metric at that period of time.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

It is not so much the diameter that is of interest, it is why it was measured in metric at that period of time.

Well, the actual PCD is important if you are having rims made (as has been done by some on this forum), but I do note that Heavy Bedford trucks of the 50's and 60's are also noted as having "8 on 275mm" wheels (actual 10 1/2"), and this is known as the "Bedford (DIN)" bolt pattern.

But the actual figure is still of interest, as it might have been more accurately rounded to either 265mm or 270mm.

[Lang]

Richard

Possibly it was a fit of enthusiasm in the early days when everybody was aligning to NATO Standard and metrication was embraced resulting in some weird numbers while trying to align existing Imperial with Metric?

Lang

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Well, the actual PCD is important if you are having rims made (as has been done by some on this forum), but I do note that Heavy Bedford trucks of the 50's and 60's are also noted as having "8 on 275mm" wheels (actual 10 1/2"), and this is known as the "Bedford (DIN)" bolt pattern.

But the actual figure is still of interest, as it might have been more accurately rounded to either 265mm or 270mm.

Tony,
I have no idea why you are comparing Bedford from 50’s and 60’s as none of their military trucks in that period used the WD divided rims. The RL and MK had different rims to each other and were 3-piece type, so this just muddy’s the water.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Tony, I have no idea why you are comparing Bedford from 50’s and 60’s as none of their military trucks in that period used the WD divided rims.

No, none of them did, but they do share the same wheel stud pattern, as evidenced by the number of Farm Blitzes in Australia that have fitted Civillian Bedford Duals to 60Cwts to increase their load capacity for farm use.

It is curious that this same 10 1/2" bolt pattern from WW2 has endured to the 50's and 60's, where it has received the term "Bedford (DIN)" of 8 on 275mm.

[Mike K]

I recall borrowing some Bedford O model truck wheels from a guy in Orange, I fitted these wheels on a WOT2H I was given for free, near Canowindra NSW . My nephew steered the WOT2 as I towed it with the Dodge ute to Cargo. That WOT2 ended up in a collection in Sydney , the Ford was seen in a W&T article featuring that particular collector's trucks.

[Lynn Eades]

And Tony they are all supported on imperial studs (7/8" BSF)

[David Herbert]

To complicate things further, DIN is the German standards authority, like SAE in America and BSI in the UK. I can't see why Bedford would ever have done anything to a DIN standard.

David

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Nice to see stampings coming to light after blasting and coating:

General Motors Canada 1941 (Canadian made)
C319F80C-680F-4CC5-9A3E-49D60752551E.jpg


Sankey 1943 (British made)
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