Old Axel Cap?

[doninbrewster]

I found this close to 12" down in the yard of a home built in 1750. Looks like it may be an old axel cap or something like that. Octagonal shape for wrench. Threads inside. About 2 5/8" outside diameter. Any ideas?

 

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[cudamark]

If there are threads on the inside, It might be a knock-off for holding a wire spoked wheel on a vehicle.

 

[doninbrewster]

Cudamark, I thought of that, but I had a car with wire wheels and this is different. It also doesn't seem strong enough to hold a well on to me, but it might be good enough to hold in the grease on an axle. The threads are on the rim just under the top, but facing outward, not inward like you would have on a hub for a wire wheel. I was hoping there might be an early car collector that might recognize it. Thanks for your reply.

 

[nhbenz]

I think you're exactly right, (axle dust/grease/hub cap) but from what I have no idea... No marks inside either? Most have a company logo, but perhaps this was a generic replacement, I don't know?

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Thats is a Grease Cap for sure...I was looking at them and it appears that GM didnt put any markings on them

here is one on Ebay that is very similar

H Hupmobile Vintage Antique Old Grease Cap Dust Cover Center Screw on Hub Cap | eBay

 

[NHBandit]

Yep. Grease cap. In my collection of Model T & A Ford tools I have a couple of the wrenches used to remove & install them. If you look at how cheaply the wrenches are made just out of stamped sheet metal it's pretty obvious that these caps were never meant to hold the wheels on. Top of the pic are the wrenches that were used with this style cap. These are marked with the Ford script logo but nearly everyone back in the old days used them.

 

[cudamark]

Cudamark, I thought of that, but I had a car with wire wheels and this is different. It also doesn't seem strong enough to hold a well on to me, but it might be good enough to hold in the grease on an axle. The threads are on the rim just under the top, but facing outward, not inward like you would have on a hub for a wire wheel. I was hoping there might be an early car collector that might recognize it. Thanks for your reply.

There was nothing in the photo to gauge size and since you said "threads inside" I assumed you meant internal threads. If indeed it has external threads, it would probably be a grease cap. They're usually quite a bit smaller than a knock-off and take a much smaller wrench.