Knock offs
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2002 11:30 am
Posted by Parker
Hi Tom: Good job on chasing down the information on the wheels. I have seen the English wheels at Retromobile and they looked pretty nice. I thought that the fellow told me that he couldn't stamp the wheels and I'm suprised to see that he can use the logo on the knock offs. Sometime after the war Borrani changed from the old English Rudge- Whitworth logo to thier own Carlo Borrani logo. Some of the very old Ferraris had two ear knock offs with the Rudge-Whitworth marking, notably the Briggs Cunningham car in the Collier museum. In 1961 Borrani sold the company to the new owners and the stamping was changed to "Ruote Borrani". I believe the wheel stickers were changed at the same time. The change from two ear knock offs to three was made after the Indy venture in the early 1950's. You will see lots of 1957-58 photos of the race cars with three ear knock offs on the rear and two ear knock offs on the front. At about 1964 the change was made from the convex three ear knock offs to the concave type, still with the Ruote Borrani hand marking in the center. The change can be documented by looking at photos of G.T.E.'s and Lusso's, but I don't know a good date or serial number to document it precisely. With the advent of the 275's a change was made to the Prancing Horse logo on the center of the konck-offs. I believe that the wire wheels were originally fitted with knock-offs that had the bent or angled ears, while the alloy wheels used knock-offs with the straight ears. I have been told that the wheels were often changed by the dealers to suit a coustomer's wish and that no thought was given to matching the knock-offs. No doubt Francoise has some experience at this point. As the knock-offs were changed the wheel stamping was also changed. The "normal" configuration is to have the Rudge-Whitworth, Carlo Borrani or Ruote Borrani stamped in the outside face of the rim and the date of manufacture stamped on the inner face of the rim, however I have seen "original" wheels without the date stamps and I think also without the Manufacturer's stamp on the outside. I have heard the Ralph Nader / Ben Hur episode took place about 1970 and knock-offs became an outlawed dangerous anachronism shortly thereafter.
The three piece tube nipple protector set seems to be a Pirelli component and is noted in the parts book for the inside plug 250's. No doubt the Pirelli people could confirm the dates. There is also a small plastic piece which is often used around the tube nipple as it is inserted into the hole in the wheel. I think I remember seeing it in the ad for the company in the Carolinas that reps Dayton wheels.
You are doing a wonderful service and I hope that you will keep digging and do several more cars.  
Hi Tom: Good job on chasing down the information on the wheels. I have seen the English wheels at Retromobile and they looked pretty nice. I thought that the fellow told me that he couldn't stamp the wheels and I'm suprised to see that he can use the logo on the knock offs. Sometime after the war Borrani changed from the old English Rudge- Whitworth logo to thier own Carlo Borrani logo. Some of the very old Ferraris had two ear knock offs with the Rudge-Whitworth marking, notably the Briggs Cunningham car in the Collier museum. In 1961 Borrani sold the company to the new owners and the stamping was changed to "Ruote Borrani". I believe the wheel stickers were changed at the same time. The change from two ear knock offs to three was made after the Indy venture in the early 1950's. You will see lots of 1957-58 photos of the race cars with three ear knock offs on the rear and two ear knock offs on the front. At about 1964 the change was made from the convex three ear knock offs to the concave type, still with the Ruote Borrani hand marking in the center. The change can be documented by looking at photos of G.T.E.'s and Lusso's, but I don't know a good date or serial number to document it precisely. With the advent of the 275's a change was made to the Prancing Horse logo on the center of the konck-offs. I believe that the wire wheels were originally fitted with knock-offs that had the bent or angled ears, while the alloy wheels used knock-offs with the straight ears. I have been told that the wheels were often changed by the dealers to suit a coustomer's wish and that no thought was given to matching the knock-offs. No doubt Francoise has some experience at this point. As the knock-offs were changed the wheel stamping was also changed. The "normal" configuration is to have the Rudge-Whitworth, Carlo Borrani or Ruote Borrani stamped in the outside face of the rim and the date of manufacture stamped on the inner face of the rim, however I have seen "original" wheels without the date stamps and I think also without the Manufacturer's stamp on the outside. I have heard the Ralph Nader / Ben Hur episode took place about 1970 and knock-offs became an outlawed dangerous anachronism shortly thereafter.
The three piece tube nipple protector set seems to be a Pirelli component and is noted in the parts book for the inside plug 250's. No doubt the Pirelli people could confirm the dates. There is also a small plastic piece which is often used around the tube nipple as it is inserted into the hole in the wheel. I think I remember seeing it in the ad for the company in the Carolinas that reps Dayton wheels.
You are doing a wonderful service and I hope that you will keep digging and do several more cars.