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Welcome to eWillys.com, a website for vintage jeep enthusiasts. I update this website nearly every day with jeep deals, jeep history, interesting reader projects, jeep related info, and more.
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TJ shared this pair of jeeps that apparently is home to some snakes. Note that the red jeep has a set of Huffman hubs, the first set I’ve seen on a jeep for sale.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/fieldandbarnfinds/permalink/2006037949521043/
“Two army jeeps one Ford one willys both run both were in ww11! Call about prices serious offers accepted”
I am looking for more information on these hubs. Anyone recognize them?
Austin Smith posted this unusual hub to G503 Facebook. He theorizes they may be a freewheeling hub of some kind, as he can find no way to spin the hubs nor, after disassembling it, did he find any internals to do so.
This is installed on an Australian jeep. The hubs look similar to a Selectro type, but these have only three nodules around the outside:
Roger Martin spotted this odd hub on Rick Reilly’s Commando in 2019. This might be a free-wheeling hub:
UPDATE: Marty notes that this is called a “hubber”, a correction from “scubber”.
Barney from Barney’s Jeep Parts shared an image of this Easy Engage device. It’s called a “hubber” (no R) and it’s made of a durable plastic. It’s used to engage certain types of Warn hubs.
He added: “They were a dealership counter accessory on a cardboard display, but were not Kaiser or AMC Jeep. It works perfect if the hubs are properly lubricated or not in a “parking” bind. And, it won’t mar the metal as homemade ones can.”
I haven’t run across IH marked hubs with a Warn design. Anyone else seen these?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1198366567173783/
“International harvester stamped lock out hubs, will fit 10 spline Dana 25 and Dana 27 axles”
UPDATE II: Finally got a look at the 1967 article about Floyd Huffman that appeared in the August 20, 1967, issue of the Albuquerque Journal (pg 28):
UPDATE: Dan shared pics of a set he just bought from Paul:
Post originally Published April 8, 2017:
In December of 1958, Floyd G. Huffman filed a patent for a new type of hub structure. His patent, designed to “provide a hub structure that can be simply and quickly manually operated to release the front wheels so that they will rotate freely on the axles without the necessity of having the gears etc. rotate simultaneously when the front wheel drive has been disengaged” was finally approved in April of 1961.
John recently rebuilt a set of Cutlas Selective Hubs, the type with the knob that rotates to engage and disengage the hub. There appear to be at least two styles of these hubs, one with a flat top and one with a groove, so that a tool (or improvised tool) can be used to help engage, disengage the hub.
This exploded overview from 1961 shows how the parts assemble (see the full brochure below this post):
As you can kind of see from this diagram, there are two sections: 1) is the hub cap that holds the knob and the spring in place (from part 107-2 in the middle and everything to the right of it) and 2) the hub base (part 108-2 and everything to the left of it).
John wrote, “Overall I’d say these are my favorite hubs I’ve worked on so far. I have a pair of Warn hubs (with the tiny needle bearings) and a pair of Selectro hubs (big chrome knob type). The Warns seemed like a real pain to rebuild since the needle bearing were in rough shape. And the Selectro hubs, while very easy to operate, were probably the weakest design I’ve seen.”
Here’s a look at John’s finished product, as it’s the best example a complete hub next to a hub with the top separated from the base:
I went with a 2 tone paint job just for fun. If it doesn’t last for any reason I’ll end up with the whole thing gloss black and a chrome knob. The body was so badly pitted there was no saving the original finish
HUB CAP:
We’ll start with the hub’s cap first. John provided the following note: “To remove the coupling piece (part 102-2 Coupling) from the chrome cap (with the cutlas knob) you have to line it up right with the correct groove, then push down firmly against the spring inside (part 110-2 coupling spring). While pushing down spin the coupling, and then the coupling spring will pop the coupling right out and its free.”
With the inner portion of the cap apart, you can see the coupling ring, the coupling, the coupling cam spring (part 107-2) and the coupling cam pins (parts 105-2).
This December 1961 back-to-back brochure shows the parts break-downs and price lists for the early non-slot Cutlas Selective Hub model 100-2 and the Power Lock Hub. See John’s rebuild of the Cutlas Selective Hub here.
This 8.5″ x 11″ brochure from Kelly Manufacturing is from approximately 1960.
UPDATE: The bottom brochure examples show a brochure from 1958, probably Cutlas’ first one. You’ll note that the brochure (and the hub itself) was branded “Power-Lock”. However, the 1960 brochure (shown just below this text) lacks any “Power-Lock”branding. Perhaps someone else knows why, but I can find no reason why. Maybe there was some concern about whether the patent would be awarded? (It wasn’t awarded until 1962).
1960 Cutlas Hub Brochure:
============================
Originally posted Feb of 2019:
This Power-Lock was the first hub patented (1958), copyrighted (1958), and sold under the Cutlas brand. As I mention in my Free-Lock article, for reasons unknown, the president of Free-Lock became the president of Cutlas. Even more curious, the last two model of Free-Lock hubs were WL-57 and WL-58.
And, what was the Initial model of the first Cutlas hub you ask? That would be WL-6, shown below (1958 Cutlas Hub Brochure):
As part of a discussion on hubs on Facebook, someone from Australia posted a photo of his CJ-6 that came with these unusual hubs. They are similar in external design to the Dualmatic/Selectro, have only 3 “bumps” or “tabs” rather than the standard six around the side of the hub. There’s no brand name on the hub or any other identifying characteristics. A search on Australian 4WD sites and on the Australian patent site did not reveal any information.
Anyone ever seen these?
For comparison, this is a Sears private branded Dualmatic/Selectro (sears branded) hub in the first pic and a Free-lock branded hub in the second pic.
This includes a working set of Thor Electronic Hubs (and the first pic I’ve seen of the switch to engage the hubs). These are the “Lectro-Matic” version of the hubs (there was also an automatic version). Dan documented a set of the “Lectro-Matric” hubs here.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/513933489290838/
“Anyone looking for the coolest 62 Jeep CJ5 on the planet. I got this handsome little guy up for sale. It’s beyond amazing! Everything works, every light, all gauges, the chrome winch ect…oh and there’s chrome all over the place. Original paint, Original interior.. both are in incredible condition. It’s a very unique Jeep and it’s running a Corvette engine that was installed by the original owner in the mid sixties.He was a aircraft mechanic so everything is perfect .It also has very rare Thor electronic locking front hub set . No rust anywhere and super straight. I have the those crazy off road wide white wall tires in the pics and the hubcaps. I just threw on a new set of Power King black walls to drive it around. The Jeep runs amazing! It’s got really good power and not geared that low. I have not taken it on the freeway but got it up to 60mph with no issues. This is a very special Jeep with history. Ca title & current registration in my name”
UPDATE: This post has been updated with more pics. Also, there is currently a Kelly Hub brochure on eBay.
In May of 1957, DA Ruben L. Beck filed a patent for a new hub design. Beck was a dreamer and like many dreamers, some saw him a genius while others thought him just plain crazy. Beck’s goal was to create a simple, but effective, four-wheel-drive hub.
Beck had already made an early impact in the jeep world, when he founded D.L. Beck Manfucaturing in Middleport, Ohio, a company that made hardtops (see Beck hardtop history here).
Beck sold his hardtop company to Hubert A. Kelly, in the 1950s but Beck and Kelly remained in contact. The date of the sale, thought once to be 1951, is less clear after this document hit eBay in 2014. It indicates Beck was still selling hardtops in 1954.
No matter when the sale occurred, Hubert took control. It wasn’t long after the patent filing that Mike Kelly, Hubert Kelly’s descendent, remembered seeing the hubs for the first time. He thought that was about 1958. I asked that he review the patent and Mike sent me the following notes:
“The Kelly Self Locking Hub I knew a was little different than the one pictured in the patent drawing. The housing was larger in diameter and had reliefs milled along the outside to allow clearance for the mounting bolts. The internal parts looked very similar to what I remember. I’m pretty sure the final Kelly product was a Beck design. I don’t recall anyone else working on it.
The hubs were manufactured in Charleston West Virginia. We already had an large machine shop there on Broad St. So moving production from Ohio to West Virgina was only logical. I know the assembling the hubs could be “interesting” if you weren’t watching what you were doing. Putting the internal workings together with the ball bearings being under spring pressure woke up more than one man who wasn’t paying attention.”
This early Warn manual No. WD-255 sold on eBay for $36.20. My last bid was $35.20, so someone out there outbid me.
There’s a very nice set of Kelly 10-spline hubs for sale over at the Old Willys Forum.
https://www.oldwillysforum.com/forum/index.php?threads/kelly-10-spline-locking-hubs.16970/
“Nice pair of vintage Kelly hubs . Very unique!
These are 10 spline Hubs are smooth to turn and in very nice condition.”
These 10-spline hubs were called the Cutlas Selective Drive Hubs. Some has the indent through the middle like this set, others did not.
https://lacrosse.craigslist.org/pts/d/readstown-willys-jeep-vintage-locking/7045913996.html
“For sale is a set of vintage Cutlas 10 spline locking hubs for Willys Jeeps. These were removed from a 1951 M38 with 20,000 original miles. The hubs were added after its Military duty so they are very low mile and in fantastic condition inside and out. Photos were taken as they came off the M38, clean as can be inside. Only reason im parting with them is because I returned the hubs to Milspec/factory configuration.
Should fit DANA 25/27 Willys MB/GPW, CJ2A, CJ3A, M38, CJ3B as well as some Willys wagons.”
These appear in good shape. You can learn more about the Selectro history here.
View all the information on ebay
“I don’t know if Selectro made these for Sears? But the Selectro ones look like these. You don’t see many with the Sears name, I believe they are 19 spline. 3″ across bottom gear. Need cleaned up and greased.”
Here’s a nicely detailed look at the rebuilding of the Allstate Locking Hubs/aka Husky Hubs.
https://imageevent.com/dad2nick/allstatelockinghubs
Once again, this is more a working post than a polished one. And, it’s a long one. It kept growing and growing as I learned more (and became more confused).Of course, I am left with more answers than questions.
Essentially, I’m trying to figure out when Selectro hubs popped onto the 4WD scene, who controlled them, and how they evolved. That led to looking at Husky, Dualmatic, Watson and FreeLock hubs. I don’t have all the answers just yet … here we go …
Map of companies related to Jeep products in the 1950s-1970s. You can learn more about Thor and White Automotive here.and Free-Lock here.
TIMELINE & DiSCUSSION:
1959/1960?: The Husky Company launches it’s line of Husky Hubs out of Aurora, Colorado. This hub one of two pieces of evidence of the Husky Company’s existence in Aurora; it has the Husky Company name and location on it:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/early-hub-depository.825602/
A second piece of evidence was uncovered on a document found by Maury; the Husky Company was located originally in Aurora, Colorado.
From this website: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/early-hub-depository.825602/
Based on the information on the hub, the Husky company already had a patent awarded (not just filed, but awarded). So, which patent was that? My best guess at the moment is that this 1958 patent awarded to Clark Peterson has the most elements in common with the Husky Hub.
Given there were a couple intervening years between the patent (awarded in 1958) and Husky Hub (unclear when it was brought to market, but I’m guessing 1959/1960), it seems possible that the company altered the design before manufacturing it, which could explain the differences between the patent and the finished hub. The biggest reason I think the two are related is that both the patent and the Husky Hub have a narrow bolt down the center, a unique design not seen in another other hubs.
1961: In 1961 a new name was associated with the Husky Hub: Trade Winds, Inc, out of Boulder, Colorado. My best guess is that the Husky Hub company lacked capital, so it turned to Trade Winds (perhaps which bought a controlling stake in the Husky Company?) to re-introduce the Husky Hubs.
The company’s name is shown as “TRADE WINDS” on the hubs, but as “Tradewinds” in various trade journal ads, which is where it focused its advertising (such as Roads and Streets, American Beef Producer, and Pacific Chemical and Metallurgical Industries). It appears the hub ads only appeared during 1961 (and possibly 1962). I can find no evidence that text ads were placed later than that. Here’s an example ad:
This snippet appeared in a 1962 book, suggesting the Husky hubs may have been launched in 1961. Two other sources also indicate that Tradewinds had launched the Husky Hub in 1961
This detail image of a brochure for the Husky Hub is undated, but clearly shows the Trade Winds name.
This is a detail shot of a Husky Hub brochure from the 1960s.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $100 a pair.
Some hubs for sale.
“10 spline 6 bolt, $100 a pair”
Watson Hubs (originally patented by Dualmatic):
Selectro Hubs Made by Dualmatic/Husky:
4 Wheel Drive hubs private labeled, but manufactured by Dualmatic/Husky:
Allstate Hubs private labeled by and manufactured by Dualmatic/Husky:
UPDATE: Still Available.
(11/05/2018) This 3A appear to have an early set of Dualmatic hubs.
https://denver.craigslist.org/cto/d/windsor-1949cj3awillysjeep/6904297997.html
“This is for a 1949 Willys cj3a jeep with a running 6 cylinder Ford engine but no title, good ranch or hunting rig for only $2995.00 cash.”
I’m way behind on my document scans. I thought I’d catch up today, but between our search for a new bed (Ann’s back is giving her issues) and the fact that Ann accidentally left the plastic bbq brush (why???) in the bbq, which melted into an ugly mess when I turned on the bbq, forcing me to clean the whole thing, all meant that I didn’t have time once again for scans.
Anyhow, here’s the promised Dualmatic brochure. The brochure is directly and has some stains, so they aren’t the best scans. But, they’ll do for now.
UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $2777.
This early M-38A1 has some rare Dana HubLok hubs. It also has a Warn/Saturn overdrive and a Meyer hardtop.
“1953 Jeep Willys M38A1 (Maybe) definately Army Style! Clean Title, Registered on non-op currently, F-head 4-Cylinder Engine, 3-Speed Manual- IO Range/Overdrive – Power Steering, Manual Locking hubs, Recent Valve job. Runs good. Please e-mail with a name and phone number and I will call back.”
Maury spotted these early Cutlas hubs on eBay. The seller owns “New Jersey’s largest Jeep parts depot”.
View all the information on eBay
UPDATE **SOLD** Was on eBay.
Starting bid is $300.
“Up for auction is a pair of NOS Dualmatic locking hubs. They are Chrome and in excellent condition. Comes with instructions and original decal, bolts, and locking clips. Unfortunately I do NOT have the parts catalog so I can NOT ID these by make and model. But I can give you dimensions: 4.375 overall diameter, 3.125 long, 10 internal spline, 3.750 bolt hole pattern center to center. The dualmatic # 80. I am selling these as is as described. Please be sure they are what you’re looking for before bidding. Please email with any questions. High bidder pays$16.50 for S&H.”
I won this rare Dualmatic brochure on eBay. I’ll follow up with more detailed pics once I receive the document.
