Issue # 3: French & Hecht King of the Wheel

In issue #2 we learned about the history of the French & Hecht wheel company. However, we didn’t cover how this company related to Oliver.

While the most noteworthy Oliver tractor with “round spoke wheels” has got to be the 70, other tractors also used wheels from this manufacturer. They were not limited to the round spoke type either. The most obvious difference with F&H is their ability to crimp the spoke on the outside of the hub as well as the inside. This provided a very tight grip to the hub.

If you’ve ever had a chance to study the Tractor Field Books put out by Farm Implement News, you’ll see exactly who manufactured wheels for what. Each issue describes all the specifications and manufacturers of most parts used on the tractors, threshers and other equipment. Under various Oliver models, you’ll see the wheel maker listed as “own”, “F&H” or “Electric”. Often times Oliver would make their own rear wheels then use someone elses front wheels.

As you can see by the following page, F&H provided all of the wheels for the Nichols and Shepard threshers. This same held true for a lot of the earlier implements. At the Narmont auction, I picked up a pair NOS steel wheels for a older Oliver planter. Upon unloading them from the truck, I noticed the F&H initials cast into the hub. Notice the picture below shows where you will generally find the initials.

F&H did more than cast wheels though. They also provided wheel weight for the wheels that they cast. The illustration below shows the F&H initials cast into the weights too.

So for those of you who thought French & Hecht only provided wheels for the 70, take another look….they’re everywhere.

Turn to Issue # 3 of Oliver Heritage for more on French & Hecht and other companies and information like it!!!