Matthews Tether Car Tire Mold, circa 1940

Tether cars, gas-powered model race cars, were popular in the 1930s and 1940s. They were raced individually while tethered to a central pivot, or against each other on a scaled-down board track. The Matthews Foundry used this mold to produce rubber tires for its line of tether cars. The removable insert disc allowed either hollow or solid tires to be made.