Spinner (wheel)

The spinner on automobile wheels historically refers to knock-off hub nuts or center caps. They may be the actual, or intended to simulate, the design used on antique vehicles or vintage sports cars. A "spinner wheel" in contemporary usage is a type of hubcap or inner wheel ornament, that spins independently inside of a wheel itself when the vehicle is in motion, and continues to spin once the vehicle has come to a stop.

Original use
Main article: Centerlock wheel
Two bladed spinner on a wire wheel
1967 AMC simulated wire wheel cover with spinner

The spinner or "knock-off" originated with Rudge-Whitworth centerlock wire wheels and hubs, which were first patented in 1908.[1][2] The spinner was a threaded, winged nut designed to keep the wheel fastened to the hub. They were screwed on and "knocked on tightly" using a hammer, hence the name "knock-offs". Most setups will feature right-hand threads on the left side of the vehicle, and left-hand threads (rotate clockwise to remove) on the vehicle's right side so the screw-on spinner would stay tightened as the auto was in forward motion.[3] This style of "knock-off" wheel was common on road cars until the development of the lug nut method attaching the wheel.

Spinner hubcaps

The spinner hubcap was introduced into the commercial vehicle and passenger automobile market in the 1930s.[4] Automotive designer Harley Earl expressed a brash philosophy behind his 1950s automobiles that included "glittering spinner hubcaps."[5] During the 1950s and 1960s automobile manufacturers offered simulated wire wheel covers for a look of luxury that featured criss-crossing spokes designed to look like the real wire wheels that were used on vehicles in the 1920s and 1930s.[6] These "spinner-wheel covers" were available on standard as well as featured on custom cars, and lowriders quickly adapted them for their own vehicles.[7]

During the early-1960s, the simulated wire wheel covers returned, but with new look designed to emphasize sportiness with their radiating spokes and center "spinner caps."[6][8] These classic center spinner caps feature a rigidly mounted propeller-like center element, usually with two or three projecting "blades."[9] They were intended to simulate the knock-off hubs that were used on vintage racing vehicles and classic sports cars where a hammer or special wrench was used on the spinner to release or tighten the wheel to the hub.[10]

These spinner hubcaps were most often an optional appearance upgrade to the standard equipment hubcaps or full wheel covers that attached to stamped steel wheels.[11] Top trim models sometimes included spinner wheel covers as standard equipment to appeal to youthful customers.[12]

In the late 1960s, U.S. Federal safety standards banned the use of protruding bar spinners on automobiles.[4]

Other uses
Dodge four-bladed "spinner" wheel cover

The mid-1950s Dodge four-bladed "spinner" wheel covers became an icon for the era and also became an item popular to owners to customize their cars.[13][14]

Spinners were an add on accessory marketed during the 1950s to decorate regular wheel covers for a custom look.[15] Center spinner hubcaps were also available as original equipment from automakers.[16]

Custom wheels for lowriders also used naked ladies on wheel covers, and these were the first to feature a floating or spinner-type wheel device. A bracket was used to mount to the spindle, so while the lady stood still the wheel spun around.[17] Similarly, the Rolls-Royce Phantom has anti-spinners – the "RR" logo in the center of the hub is mounted on a spinner with an offset weight designed to ensure that the logo is always the right way up when the car is parked.

The hubometers used on large trucks, buses, and trailers that appear to be stationary while the wheel is turning to accurately measure the actual distance covered. They are actually enclosed and float in a liquid with anti-freeze as to be functional in severe low temperatures without freezing.

Modern concept
Rotating spinner wheel

The modern spinner device is a decorative kinetic attachment to the wheel of an automobile.[18] The spinner covers the center of a car's wheel and is designed to independently rotate by using one or more roller bearings to isolate the spinner from the wheel, enabling it to turn while the wheel is at rest.[18]

Legislative bills were proposed in several US states to ban spinner type wheels and hubcaps that simulate movement even when a vehicle is stopped because they could be disconcerting to other motorists and present a safety hazard.[19][20]

Spinners were popular during the early-2000s within the hip-hop community of the United States. Since the mid-2000s, they are gradually fading out of vogue in popular culture.[21][22]

Music

The spinner-type automobile hubcaps were the inspiration for a Detroit-area R&B/soul group, The Domingoes, to rename themselves The Spinners in the late 1950s.[23][24]

In 1960, Pat Davis recorded the song "Spinner Hub Caps".[25]

"Weird Al" Yankovic's song White & Nerdy contains the lines "My rims never spin to the contrary / You'll find that they're quite stationary"[26]

See also

References
  1. Howard, Keith (May 2001). "Rudge-Whitworth hub". Motor Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  2. Shea, Terry (September 2012). "Rudge-Whitworth". hemmings.com. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. Mavrigian, Mike (2008). High Performance Fasteners & Plumbing : A Guide to Nuts, Bolts, Fuel, Brake, Oil & Coolant Lines, Hoses, Clamps, Racinghardware and Plumbing Techniques. HP Books. ISBN 9781557885234.
  4. Browne, Ray B.; Browne, Pat, eds. (2001). The guide to United States popular culture. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 416. ISBN 9780879728212.
  5. Yates, Brock (October 1991). "Detroit Iron". American Heritage. 42 (6). Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  6. Connor, Sean (22 January 2012). "A look back at simulated wire wheel covers. Part 2: the 1960s". Newark Classic Cars Examiner. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  7. Tatum, Charles M. (2011). Lowriders in Chicano Culture: From Low to Slow to Show. ABC-CLIO. pp. 199–200. ISBN 9780313381492.
  8. Gunnell, John (2006). Standard Catalog of American Muscle Cars 1960-1972. Krause Publications. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-89689-433-4.
  9. Corcoran, Tom (1994). Mustang 1964½–1968. MBI Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-87938-630-6.
  10. Clausager, Anders Ditlev (2003). Original MGA. MBI Publishing. p. 84. ISBN 9780760314500.
  11. Cheetham, Craig (2007). Ultimate Muscle Cars. MBI Publishing. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-7603-2834-7.
  12. Glatch, Tom (2017). The Art of Mopar: Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth Muscle Cars. Motorbooks. pp. 22–28. ISBN 9780760359716.
  13. Gunnell, John (2004). Standard guide to 1950s American cars. Krause Publications. p. 94. ISBN 9780873498685. Dodge four bladed spinner wheel cover.
  14. Kustom Kemps of America: Commemorative Book. Turner Publishing. 2003. ISBN 9781563119378.
  15. Crow, Deette (2004). Rod & Custom in the 1950s. Motorbooks International. p. 209. ISBN 9780760316306.
  16. Holder, Bill; Kunz, Phil (2003). Chrysler Muscle: Detroit's Mightiest Machines. Krause Publications. p. 22. ISBN 9780873496339.
  17. Perea, Sammy J. (February 2009). "History of the Wheel: A loose look at the wheels and tires that lowriders have loved to roll on". Lowrider. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  18. Sobe, Ed (2009). A Field Guide to Automotive Technology. Chicago Review Press. p. 28. ISBN 9781613741719.
  19. "Spinner wheels and hubcaps face bans in several states". US: SEMA Market Snapshot. 15 June 2005. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  20. Shunk, Chris (17 February 2007). "New York State moves to ban spinner wheels". Autoblog. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  21. "Choosing the Best Tires for Your Car". Smartguy.com. 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  22. "How to Select New Rims and Tires for Your Car". Auto Parts & Accessories. 19 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  23. Marshall, Tim. "The 'One of a Kind' Sound of The Spinners". R&B Showcase News (7). Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  24. McCollum, Brian (19 March 2013). "Bobby Smith, lead singer of The Spinners, dies". USA Today. Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
  25. Schmidling, Tyrone (26 April 2009). "Pat Davis "Spinner Hub Caps" 1960". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2013 – via YouTube.
  26. "White & Nerdy lyrics". lyrics.com.
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