Cosmic Alloys or Magnesium?

[MiniNut]

Hello All,

I have been watching the Forum with great interest and finally got round to joining.
I was wondering if any of you could shed any light on some wheels that I have? I don't know if they are 'ordinary' Alloys or Magnesium because they feel incredibly light. Anyone know what they are please?
Embossed on the inside is Cosmic Reg. Design No. 918822 and either side of the valve hole is 4 1/2 x 10 and 568. When I got them they had inner tubes in the tyres so I assume they have gone porous.
I have a pretty much bog standard Morris Mk.1 Super Deluxe Hydrolastic car that I have been trying to get back on the road for years. I am very wary of using the wheels again but might use them if I ever get to display the car anywhere.
I must say the forum is fascinating and I look forward especially to Our Cars and Projects to see rusty hulks being transformed into objects of wonderment. It spurs me on to get mine finished.

[Pete]

They look like Cooper S jobbies with the extra vents which are mega rare !

[nick rogers]

Mk1 Cosmic 4.5". Aluminium alloy not magnesium. Some wheel websites describe them as Mag but the density suggests this is not correct.

[ivor badger]

Mk1 Cosmic 4.5". Aluminium alloy not magnesium. Some wheel websites describe them as Mag but the density suggests this is not correct.

It's a Mk2 Comic at 4.5"x10 for S brakes. Mk1s were 4" and for drum/ Cooper 7" discs and stick out a long way if fitted to Ss.

[mk1]

Cosmics were cast in LM6 which is an Aluminium alloy, not magnesium.

http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.u ... mic_66.pdf

M

[Vegard]

Cosmics were cast in LM6 which is an Aluminium alloy, not magnesium.

http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.u ... mic_66.pdf

Wow, that catalogue is just full of junk isn't it Love it

[MiniNut]

Thank you all for your replies. Fantastic to see an actual catalogue. I just see that the wheel page notes the registered design as 915287 whereas my wheel says 918822. Do you know if anyone has a copy of a catalogue or any list with this number in it? It would seem from your replies that they are for a Cooper S offset so I hope I can use them for a 1965 Cooper that I intend to restore after my Super Deluxe.(I shall be fitting Cooper S brakes). This forum really is an amazing font of knowledge. Regards Hugo.

[Pete]

They'd be a great addition to your car so long as you use S brakes as you say.

[pigpen]

Mk2 Cosmics were either 5 or 6 inches wide and a completely different design.

[Pete]

I think that's well understood Pigpen, (boy have there been a few threads about Cosmics on here !!) , Ivor's just pointing out that they're not officially Mk1's. They're RW10S's

Why do topics about Cosmics always get so complicated ? Maybe cosy they p+*ssed about so much with different versions.

[ivor badger]

Mk2 Cosmics were either 5 or 6 inches wide and a completely different design.

You'll have had some on your car like myself then!

[BRI MK1]

I think these are the same wheels as my Radford hatchback I am looking for a spare if you have one or buy all four cheers Brian.

[pigpen]

Ivor, I was trying to clarify an obvious error in wheel nomenclature.
I know from experience owning and trading early Cosmic wheels.

[ivor badger]

i had both on a car. The original Mk1 4"x10 were originally purchased(not by myself, but the original owner). They were fitted to an S, so stuck out from the arches and were a complete nusiance. They threw up spray from the tyres when wet and continually covered the screen in muck, especially when it was not raining. So you had to endlessly lean over to switch on the wipers. The later Cosmic 4.5" S wheel was not available when they were bought btw. The front 2 were damaged in an accident and were replaced by the correct 4.5" S shaped wheeels. These at the time were sold as Cosmic Mk2s. They were the only Cosmic wheels made and sold at the time. I removed them over a period and just fitted 4.5" steel S wheels.

[Pete]

They were fitted to an S, so stuck out from the arches and were a complete nusiance. They threw up spray from the tyres when wet and continually covered the screen in muck .

Makes you wonder whether that had an influence on most of the early Radford marketing being aimed at Coopers and not S's seeing as a proper S offset alloy wheel wasn't widely available until the mid 60's. hence all those famous early Radford S's having the wrong offset wheels (Macca's car was covered in sh*t on many photos ! )

[Nevsmini]

Pete some new evidence that cosmics were not the only wheel fitted to the early Radfords. Here is a photo of a set of Rosepetals on a 63/4 Radford!

image.jpg

[mk1]

Now that is a good looking car!

[Pete]

Yes it's a great shot of a fantastic car (from 'Small Car' magazine I think). I remember seeing that photo of Roy Boulting's Radford and thinking I'd not seen 'Roses' on a Radford before, or even since ! Looks great doesn't it, anyone else ever seen rosepetal wheels on any other Radford ?