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Well I just spend an hour trying to track down the corporate history of Motor Wheel Corporation. I was hoping they may have information in there corporate archives from when they supplied wheels to Packard (photos, documents, etc). But their corporate history goes from Goodyear, to a merger with Kelsey Hayes, and then through numerous investment companies. So I am not sure who to even contact at this point or even if the information still exists.... crazy.

I also have send a few inquiries to AO Smith who provided the frames to Packard. Their automotive division was sold to Tower Automotive in 1997 which is now owned by Cerberus Capital. But since AO still exists as a company themselves, hopefully they still maintain a corporate archive.

Briggs is also on the list...

I will let you guys know what I am able to dig up.

Here's a long shot guess. Try Smith Motor Wheel Co. Possibly a forerunner of the Motor Wheel co. Just a guess.

Following mentions SMW div. of AOS.

http://www.50sville.com/Smith.htm

I found it by Googleing "Smith Motor Wheel". Lots of other hits too. Tho perhaps no conexion to what u want.

A "Smith Wheel" was a motor that could bolt onto a bicycle. It was built by AO Smith, who also built small motors. They built carriage components and bicycles parts before they started building automotive frame. Now they are one of the largest producers of hot water heaters.

But they are not connected to "Motor Wheel Corporation", except for being a supplier to Packard.

There is some Packard information in this Motor Wheel Catalog. I also spent quite a bit of time trying to track down current information on Motor Wheel Corp. without much success.

Motor Wheel Catalog

Thanks BDeB, that is a lot of information. All the Packard wire wheels I have ever seen or my friend Chris has ever seen are Motor Wheel. The original wheels on my 400 are Motor Wheel. I think K-H bought them out in the 60s. GM used a lot of K-H wheels and they used to have a manufacturing facility in McKeesport Pa., but moved all operations back to Detroit sometime in the 60s also.

Motor Wheel was a long-time Packard supplier. Don't know who supplied the wooden artillery or disteel wheels thru 1936 but the 33-36 wire spoke wheels are Motor Wheel products.