CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tin-Top on January 02, 2014, 10:58:06 PM

Title: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 02, 2014, 10:58:06 PM
Found this great informative site while trying to research a steering wheel I have recently purchased .

 I normally collect wooden British steering wheels but I found the 16" Rosewood while looking for my next fix (purchase) .

 From what I can make out it is a 16" simulated plastic Rosewood with aprox 2.5" dish & 2 spoke design  , where I am struggling is that all the other wheels I have found are exactly the same as mine apart from mine has flushed rivets at the back , I just can not find another with the same riveted finish , any help would be greatly appreciated .
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: 1968RSZ28 on January 02, 2014, 11:11:33 PM
Can you post a photo or two?

Ed Bertrand is our steering wheel expert.  Ed wrote the CRG report, First Generation Camaro Steering Wheels.  Here is Ed's report...  http://www.camaros.org/swheel.shtml

Paul
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 02, 2014, 11:21:28 PM
Thanks for the reply I have read it but I am sure there is still nothing about the rivets to the rear will try and get some pics up tomorrow as it is near 11.30 PM here in England.
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: BULLITT65 on January 03, 2014, 12:38:03 AM
A simulated wood 2 spoke sounds more like the 66 optional wheel. (I have one on my 66 chevelle)
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 03, 2014, 01:38:36 AM
Sorry perhaps I worded it incorrectly should have said 3 spoke in the overlapping design known as the N34 I believe .
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: lakeholme on January 03, 2014, 01:57:33 AM
Sounds like a N34.  Do post some pictures.
Is there a particular question you need answered about the rivets?
If you don't mind my asking, where do you live in England?  I've worked in Bournemouth and Fareham.
And welcome to the forum!  ;D
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 03, 2014, 02:24:05 AM
Its a very small world I live in Poole and is attached to Bournemouth how crazy is that , I was born in Bournemouth.

 I am just struggling to find a pic of a N34 with flushed rivets on the back maybe just looking in the wrong place , all the ones I believe I have found do not seem to have any rivets to the back, am I going mad ?
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: z28z11 on January 03, 2014, 02:31:54 AM
Bets shots I have of my late departed rosewood. No rivets I can discern - looks to be spot welded.

This was an exceptional wheel I purchased in the mid 80's, long before the current reproductions - a known original wheel.

Regards,
Steve
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 03, 2014, 02:35:36 AM
Thanks Steve but the rivets are on the outer wooden rim like a Grant or Moto Lita wheel.
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: z28z11 on January 03, 2014, 02:52:32 AM
Sorry - I misunderstood the placement. It wouldn't be a '68 or '9 - molded construction with no rivets. Aftermarkets like Grant wheels had them, as you noted. I had one of those in my 1957 Bel Air in the '70's.

Regards,
Steve
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 03, 2014, 11:37:48 AM
(http://[URL=http://s1129.photobucket.com/user/chinacats1/media/lotusandcamarowheels006_zps562a42e5.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/chinacats1/lotusandcamarowheels006_zps562a42e5.jpg)[/URL][/img]
Centre will clearly have to be reworked as one of my fellow countryman has seriously bodged it to fit a brit car.other wise in great condition.
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 03, 2014, 11:41:54 AM
 Argh darn pics.  (http://)
(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/chinacats1/lotusandcamarowheels006_zps562a42e5.jpg) (http://s1129.photobucket.com/user/chinacats1/media/lotusandcamarowheels006_zps562a42e5.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 03, 2014, 11:52:13 AM
(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/chinacats1/lotusandcamarowheels007_zps41c8c647.jpg) (http://s1129.photobucket.com/user/chinacats1/media/lotusandcamarowheels007_zps41c8c647.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: doomer on January 03, 2014, 03:41:14 PM
Looks right, but with modified mounting surfaces.  ???
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: ko-lek-tor on January 03, 2014, 03:49:29 PM
I would say that someone has added those embellishments (rivets) in a customizing attempt.
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: bertfam on January 03, 2014, 05:00:23 PM
Can you take better (higher resolution) pictures of the "rivets", and also of the back of the wheel at each spoke where it meets the plastic of the wheel?

Thanks
Ed
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 03, 2014, 06:27:31 PM
I hope these help , as I have said previously I collect steering wheels and imho this is all original apart from the butchered centre , the rivets have a slight grain to them (http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/chinacats1/69Rosewood003_zps67efc51a.jpg) (http://s1129.photobucket.com/user/chinacats1/media/69Rosewood003_zps67efc51a.jpg.html)
(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/chinacats1/69Rosewood004_zps7205faac.jpg) (http://s1129.photobucket.com/user/chinacats1/media/69Rosewood004_zps7205faac.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 03, 2014, 06:32:56 PM
(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/chinacats1/69Rosewood001_zps680cb633.jpg) (http://s1129.photobucket.com/user/chinacats1/media/69Rosewood001_zps680cb633.jpg.html)
(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/chinacats1/69Rosewood002_zpsc32b8c33.jpg) (http://s1129.photobucket.com/user/chinacats1/media/69Rosewood002_zpsc32b8c33.jpg.html)
(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/chinacats1/69Rosewood005_zps30c3f1c8.jpg) (http://s1129.photobucket.com/user/chinacats1/media/69Rosewood005_zps30c3f1c8.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: bertfam on January 03, 2014, 07:27:26 PM
They look painted on! Are you sure they're actually rivets??

Ed
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 03, 2014, 07:55:34 PM
Ed,
 
 Definitely rivets , strange don't you think , everything is exactly the same as a Rosewood N34 apart from these rivets to the rear!
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: 69Z28-RS on January 04, 2014, 04:36:00 AM
It's difficult to tell from the photos you included, but that wheel doesn't look like an original rosewood wheel for a '69 Camaro.  In fact, even the dish appears deeper?   Can you measure the dish so we can compare?   
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 04, 2014, 02:26:31 PM
I thought just over 2.5" dish was correct !
(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m507/chinacats1/001_zpsd9d9c8e8.jpg) (http://s1129.photobucket.com/user/chinacats1/media/001_zpsd9d9c8e8.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: 69Z28-RS on January 04, 2014, 11:22:28 PM
I removed my original wheel and measured it the same way; slightly over 2.5" to the front face of the center, and almost 3" to the deepest side of the back.   16" diameter wheel.   What is the diameter of your wheel?
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 04, 2014, 11:49:21 PM
 Same as yours 16" and the last pic is far more a true representation of the wheel after I gave it a quick clean .
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: 69Z28-RS on January 05, 2014, 12:36:39 AM
Now I'm intrigued as well.  I can only think of two possibilities for this wheel:
1) It's an early prototype built by the company that produced the wheels for Chevrolet?  What company was that?  Does anyone know?  Tin-top:  Do you know the history of this steering wheel?  where it came from and when?
2) The *other* possibility is that it's an attempt (not a bad one btw) by an unknown company attempting to mimic the great beauty and style of one of the many beautiful parts used on the '69 Camaro....  :)

Any other opinions??  :)   Ed?
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: ko-lek-tor on January 05, 2014, 01:10:06 AM
Now I'm intrigued as well.  I can only think of two possibilities for this wheel:
1) It's an early prototype built by the company that produced the wheels for Chevrolet?  What company was that?  Does anyone know?  Tin-top:  Do you know the history of this steering wheel?  where it came from and when?
2) The *other* possibility is that it's an attempt (not a bad one btw) by an unknown company attempting to mimic the great beauty and style of one of the many beautiful parts used on the '69 Camaro....  :)

Any other opinions??  :)   Ed?
Now I'm intrigued as well.  I can only think of two possibilities for this wheel:
1) It's an early prototype built by the company that produced the wheels for Chevrolet?  What company was that?  Does anyone know? 

I believe the Inland plant in Dayton,Ohio made the wheels.
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: cook_dw on January 05, 2014, 01:19:19 AM
Personal opinion.

I believe the wheel is legit.  I think what makes the biggest difference is that the color is much darker than originally would have been due to an additional coating or glaze added to the plastic after the rivets or accents were added.

Photo for comparison.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/superslow/1969%20Frost%20Green%20Z28/RosewoodWheel_zpsa17b10ff.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/superslow/media/1969%20Frost%20Green%20Z28/RosewoodWheel_zpsa17b10ff.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: BULLITT65 on January 05, 2014, 01:25:54 AM
So you mention you somewhat collect steering wheels. Where did you find it?, what did the seller represent it as? Did you buy it to re-sell it?
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: 69Z28-RS on January 05, 2014, 03:09:10 AM
Personal opinion.
I believe the wheel is legit.  I think what makes the biggest difference is that the color is much darker than originally would have been due to an additional coating or glaze added to the plastic after the rivets or accents were added.

But the real issue is the *rivets*..  he's stated that they are actual rivets, not some 'accent'.. and I personally don't believe anyone would make such a modification which cannot be seen (on the back of the steering wheel); why would anyone do that?  If it's made by Inland (and KoLector states), then I'd assume an early prototype or early production??
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: cook_dw on January 05, 2014, 03:21:25 AM
why would anyone do that?

I've seen stranger.. 
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: bertfam on January 05, 2014, 04:24:33 AM
Sorry boys. I can't help. I've never seen a factory rosewood wheel with rivets.

Ed
Title: Re: 69 rosewood Steering Wheel
Post by: Tin-Top on January 05, 2014, 09:15:36 AM
Thanks every one for all the time and effort put in , I have come to the same conclusion it has to be a early production or prototype it is the only thing that makes sense, as who would do a copy that was not authentic it has a decent age to it although I would say has not seen action for many years until it was adapted to fit a mk1 Ford Cortina of the 60's.

 I only paid £50 for it so either way it is not a problem how ever I would have really loved to have I'D it 100% I always do a lot of research hence me being on here after reading Ed's fantastic research on the steering wheels on the site, extremely informative.

 Perhaps they where originally going for the Grant,  Moto Lita  or Derrington classic woodrim look and then decided to delete the Rivets before production, I guess in all honesty we will never know ,but intriguing all the same .