Early Series MM wheel decoration

for those with Series MM sidevalve cars produced between September 1948 and February 1953
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gtt1951
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Early Series MM wheel decoration

Post by gtt1951 »

There is a Romain Green Low-light for sale on eBay (item https://ebay.us/h3gTrD ).
Its wheels have a painted white line, in a circle, just outside of the hub cap.
I have seen this on another low-light, same colour.
My question is
"When did this type of decoration cease?"

I ask as I have a Romain Green low-light and its wheel are not painted like this.

George.
Image
'50 Low-light with 918 Side-valve engine,
'51 High-light with Side-valve 918 engine,
'55 4-dr with 803 engine,
'56 Traveller with 1098 engine.
JohnV
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Re: Early Series MM wheel decoration

Post by JohnV »

I'd like to know this as well, for the ever-growing list of Series MM running changes. May be hard to pinpoint, though, as it's not a part change indicated in the parts book. Perhaps as an austerity measure when painted hubcaps (briefly) and/or painted grille came in during Korean War?
gtt1951 wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:33 pm My question is
"When did this type of decoration cease?"
As for your car, could the wheels have been repainted but the stripe not replaced? Or are you confident they're original?
gtt1951 wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:33 pm I ask as I have a Romain Green low-light and its wheel are not painted like this.
I have two Minors in upstate New York. One is the 1961 Traveller my dad bought new that year in London, where I was born. It's had a hard life but is still running cheerfully at 54K miles. The second is the oldest Minor confirmed to survive in North America, a LHD high-light Tourer built in April 1949. It's a total basket case, but will be restored over the coming years.
gtt1951
Minor Addict
Posts: 978
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2012 5:01 pm
Location: Farnborough, Hampshire
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Re: Early Series MM wheel decoration

Post by gtt1951 »

Thanks for that info.
Both my Series MM (low and high-light) were 1950 and 1951 respectively - and both have the 2-piece grille with chromed insert.
The 2 low-lights, whose pictures I've seen are 1948 cars - before the start of the Korean War in June 1950.
Picture 1
Romaine Green.jpg
Romaine Green.jpg (352.64 KiB) Viewed 1074 times
Picture 2
eBay sale image.jpg
eBay sale image.jpg (175.13 KiB) Viewed 1074 times
Image
'50 Low-light with 918 Side-valve engine,
'51 High-light with Side-valve 918 engine,
'55 4-dr with 803 engine,
'56 Traveller with 1098 engine.
JohnV
Minor Friendly
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2017 10:48 am
MMOC Member: No

Re: Early Series MM wheel decoration

Post by JohnV »

The painted one-piece grille came in from March 1951 (RHD 90117 / LHD 89727), but the plated two-piece grille remained an option.

Sometime late in 1951, the one-piece grille became the standard fitting (RHD 114041/ LHD 110577). If I'm reading the parts book correctly, that is!
gtt1951 wrote: Mon Nov 25, 2019 5:54 pm Thanks for that info.
Both my Series MM (low and high-light) were 1950 and 1951 respectively - and both have the 2-piece grille with chromed insert.
The 2 low-lights, whose pictures I've seen are 1948 cars - before the start of the Korean War in June 1950.
I have two Minors in upstate New York. One is the 1961 Traveller my dad bought new that year in London, where I was born. It's had a hard life but is still running cheerfully at 54K miles. The second is the oldest Minor confirmed to survive in North America, a LHD high-light Tourer built in April 1949. It's a total basket case, but will be restored over the coming years.
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