Matthews Tether Car Tire Mold, circa 1940
THF159056 / Matthews Tether Car Tire Mold, circa 1940
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Artifact Overview
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.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Mold (Shaping tool)
Date Made
circa 1940
Creators
Place of Creation
Location
at Henry Ford Museum in Driven to Win: Racing in America
Object ID
2013.47.39
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Eric Zausner and the E-Z Spindizzy Foundation.
Material
Steel (Alloy)
Color
Bronze (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 2.125 in
Width: 10.5 in
Diameter: 6 in
Weight: 16.5 lb
Inscriptions
Outside:
MATTHEWS TIRE | SHK 020 394 JR | 5624
Inside:
**MATTHEWS** | *FRESNO* | *CALIF.* | *6.00-17*
Keywords |
|---|
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Related Content
SetTether Cars: Big Thrills in Small Scale
- 25 Artifacts
Tether cars provided big racing thrills in a smaller size. These miniature gas-powered model cars were raced individually while tethered to a central pivot, or against each other on a scaled-down track. At their peak popularity in the years surrounding World War II, some 25 major manufacturers -- and hundreds of individual builders -- produced tether cars. The artifacts in this set offer a peek into this exciting hobby.