General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

N/A

Width

10.1 cm

Height

4.9 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Motorized Ground Transportation

Category

Automotive parts

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Packard

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Michigan

City

Detroit

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Studebaker's presence in Canada goes back to 1910-1911 when the company was the American distributor of the E-M-F cars being built in Walkerville, Ontario. Studebaker will acquire the American E-M-F Co. and gain at the same time, control of the E-M-F-Co. of Canada. The Studebaker Corporation of Canada was thus formed. They continued production in Canada until 1936. In 1948, production started again in Canada in Hamilton. In 1955, when the parent firm took over the Packard Motor Car Co, the Canadian company became Studebaker-Packard of Canada Ltd. In 1962, the Packard name was taken off to become Studebaker of Canada Limited. In 1963, all Studebaker production was concentrated at the Hamilton plant after cessation of the American production at South Bend, Indiana. But as the market demand for their cars continued to decline, ultimately, the Hamilton plant closed also in 1966 (1979.0594). Hub caps are a Collector's item.

Function

Cover put on automobile wheels to enhance its aesthetic appearance or aerodynamism and to protect the wheel bolts from mud and dust.

Technical

Packard Motor Car Company was established at the beginning of the 20th century and was a major manufacturing company in Warren, Ohio. In the second half of the 19th century, the Packard family was originally involved in various business enterprises, including hotels, hardware stores, lumber mills, and an iron rolling mill. In 1890, Doud Packard and James Ward Packard established the Packard Electric Company, which manufactured incandescent light bulbs ("Packard Motor Car Company"). In July 1899, the Packard and Weiss company formed from a partnership between the Packard brothers, George L. Weiss and W.A. Heather (Turnquist: 15). In September 1900, the Packard family established their new automobile business under the name Ohio Automobile Company, which was renamed in 1902 as the Packard Motor Car Company ("Packard Motor Car Company"). Packard Motor Car Company established itself as a manufacturer of luxury vehicles known for their highest quality of style and engineering (Turnquist: 15-197). In 1954, Packard merged with Studebaker to form the Studebaker-Packard Corporation (Dawes: 122). In 1956, the company suffered from financial trouble due to over-expansion and in 1962, Studebaker dropped the Packard name from their title. In 1964, Studebaker ceased the production of Studebaker automobiles in the United States (Turnquist: 191-197). The last automobile to bear the Packard name was manufactured in 1958 (Dawes: 176). Originally, hub caps date back to the horse-drawn era and afterwards to the first automobiles when wheels were made of wooden spokes connected to the center hub. The hub contained the wheel bearing, which was packed with grease. The hub cap was a small device used to cover the center hub to keep the dust out and the grease in. Eventually, car manufacturers replaced the wooden spokes with steel wire spokes in the 1920s and 1930s. As a result the hub cap evolved into a wheel cover, which is a large disc that covers most of the wheel. Wheel covers continue to serve a functional purpose but they have also become a decorative design feature of the wheel.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Wide depressed stamped ring around the edge of face containing names 'PACKARD MOTOR CAR CO./ DETROIT, MICH USA' in raised silver letters on a black background

Missing

N/A

Finish

Polished silver surface/ black and red paint used in decorative details/ condition: red and black surfaces show some wear

Decoration

Wrench well in center of hub cap with red painted bottom