1920'sTruck and Circus Wheel with Solid Rubber Tire

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In 1922, Firestone commenced manufacturing balloon tires, and before that, trucks had run on solid rubber ones, similar to the wheel featured here. These types of wheels were common for early Mack and other trucks. In 1936 or 1937, Cole Bros. Circus owners Zack Terrell and Jess Atkins purchased many of these tires for their circus train, taking advantage of a bargain as truckers transitioned to balloon tires. During WW II, tire shortages caused issues for balloon tire users, but the Circus continued utilizing their solid rubber wheels. Notably, these wheels were preserved beyond their general usage period. The wheel design follows a 3/4-inch scale and is printed on the back without requiring raft or support. It also has a center dimple to help with drilling an axle hole. Two wheels could be glued together to represent the double rear wheels of many trucks, carrying their heaviest load.