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Part 19a: Spoked Wheel, 3''

Early Meccano wheels were limited to the small pulleys and flanged wheels. Models of trucks and motor vehicles at the time suffered from terribly small and ugly ones. At last, in 1915, Meccano introduced the 3" spoked wheels, often referred to as "artillery wheels" (although this was never an official Meccano term). Initially without a boss, they could only be placed loose on an axle. Eventually in 1920, they gained a boss and became a very significant part of the look of many Meccano models.

19a	Spoked Wheel, 3''	1915	1978	4	4	0	n/a

The parts

After their introduction, the spoked wheels became one of the most recognisable parts of a Meccano model during the 20's. In the manuals of the period, many of the models are built around them, often showing military equipment but also cars and trucks. The image to the right is model 5.16 "Field gun and carriage" from the 1929 manual.

Chronological variations

As stated above, the spoked wheel had no boss from 1915 through to 1920. It was therefore not possible to use it on a motorised model, except by the clumsy and unreliable method of jamming it between two collars or other bossed parts. Bosses were initially attached to only one side of the thin steel pressing, and these often came out or caused distortion of the wheel edge. By 1922 a special boss (unique to this part) had been devised to go through both sides, making a much more durable wheel.

Once the final form was reached, spoked wheels went through a range of colours. The photograph above shows the early (1922) gloss black, (double-tapped from 1924), Dark red from 1928, Matt black post-war, Light red from the late 50's, and gloss black again from the 70's. The post-war parts are stamped Meccano Made in England, of course.

Variations and oddities

Dealer spare parts boxes

The spoked wheel continued to be available as a spare part after the war, in a strange light red colour. They were available from probably around 1958 in light red. These are not very common as they were expensive parts that were never supplied in any outfits, and looked somewhat old-fashioned by then.
By the 70's, spoked wheels had changed back to black, but now in a gloss finish. They are supplied in clear plastic bags with a yellow or white label as was common in this era.

Individual part numbers

Part numbers for the parts on this page are as follows:    Unique part numbers
For identification, each variation has been given a suffix to the main Meccano part number. These suffixes consist of a two-character code for the colour, and if there are many variations, a further number and sometimes letter code to identify each variation. See the bottom of the 'Parts' page for further details.

You don't need to worry what the codes are, just click on any one for a photograph.

The button above turns on and off the display of DMS numbers (where they are known). The DMS (Development of the Meccano System, Hauton and Hindemarsh) published in 1972 and added to in 75 and 82, suggested part numbers for every variation of every Meccano part. These numbers aren't perfect, but they are recognised and also referenced in the EMP (Encyclopedia of Meccano Parts, Don Blakeborough).

Description	from	19a
Ten spokes, black, no boss	15-20	.bk1
Grey with one hole at 1/8'' diameter	??	.gy
Ten spokes, gloss black, boss on one face only	20-22	.bk2
Gloss black, boss through entire wheel, single tapped	22-24	.bk3
Gloss black, double-tapped boss through entire wheel	24-	.bk
Matt black, double-tapped boss through entire wheel ²	??	.mb1
Dark red, otherwise as above	28	.dr
Dark red, with dark green spokes	??	.rg
Navy blue	34	.nb
Red	37	.re
Matt black (stamped Made in England)	46	.mb
Light red, stamped Made in England ¹	58?	.lr
Gloss black	70?	.bk4
		ALL

¹ EMP records these as starting in 1950, but this seems unlikely. The post-1954 spare parts box in the picture above has the later label but still matt black parts. It is more likely to have been introduced along with the rest of the light red in 1958 or soon afterwards (Melvyn Wright reports that a colour change wasn't notified for this part when all the other parts changed in 1958).
² Date uncertain. This variation not mentioned in DMS/EMP, but I have examples of both matt and gloss black double-tapped, but only gloss black single-tapped, all with 'Fabrique en Angleterre' bosses and thus all of 20's vintage.

Please send us pictures of missing parts! Hints and tips for pictures
Take a picture of the part in very good light, preferably on a plain yellow background, without a flash but with a tripod.
Ideally, trim the picture to about 150 pixels per inch of the Meccano part (unless the part is particularly big or small), save it as a reasonably good quality jpg file with a filename of exactly the part number, for example 19b.ni1.jpg, and email it to us by clicking on 'Contact us' at the top of the page. Thanks!

• A greyed-out box shows that no part exists for that colour combination.
• Part number codes with a green background have an attached picture of the part, just click once on the code to show a photograph of that part in a separate window.
• Parts marked "†" were temporary or economy parts, or existed only within specific themed outfits. The previous part continued throughout or afterwards.

Further information

Total number of messages on this page: 10.  This is page 1 of 2.   

Andy      (at 7:43pm, Mon 10th Jun, 19)

I have an oddity - the drawing shows the roll-over on the rim to be on the boss-side of the wheel, as shown in all the photos above. I have one that has the roll-over on the outer face. It is a post-1946 version, stamped on the outer side of the hub.

Anon      (at 5:12pm, Thu 26th Jan, 17)

Why did spoked wheels become double tapped in 1924, as most parts became double tapped in 1927?

Dion Haggett      (at 11:14am, Mon 3rd Feb, 14)

Your website must be one of the most comprehensive around when it comes to information as to the outfits and individual parts in the meccano system down through the years . Fascinating reading.

Jason      (at 7:03am, Sat 23rd Jul, 11)

Wow! A response three years and one week later. Thanks. I still haven't trimmed any of my 3 inch wonders but I might do so soon as I have some rather fetching spoked wheels (pre-war examples, no less) which would look excellent if so shod and used on a contemporary model. That sounds to me like a good use for old tyres which would otherwise be "past it".

John      (at 6:16am, Sat 23rd Jul, 11)

Trimming tyres sacriligous? Not if you trim very old ones which have turned almost into concrete and cannot be flexed over a Pulley.

Tony Brown      (at 11:00am, Fri 22nd Jul, 11)

I've put a picture up in my Marklin Sets Gallery to show the two Marklin equivalent parts with a Meccano wheel so that people can see the difference. If Charles or anyone wants to use it here then feel free.

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