Richmond Spoke Press

The Richmond Spoke press was used when servicing wood spoke wheels like those found on Model T’s and other vehicles of the early 1900’s. The earliest automotive wheels where nothing more than beefed up versions of horse carriage wheels. Wooden spokes of proper dimensions were laid out in a star pattern and pressed into a steel rim using a tool like this. A metal hub was then bolted in place with a bearing. Other than being bent, this tool seems intact. It’s likely Ed found it discarded somewhere and brought it home for his junk pile. Wood spoke wheels quickly fell out of favor as they were dangerous so tools like this quickly became obsolete.