What's going on in this photograph?

What's going on in this photograph?

Tom

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

Breaking the rim seal between the tyre and wheel?

That's what I would though as well, looks like trying to remove the tyre.

Steve

It could be just bead breaker, but it may be for removing the locking ring on split rims.... the ubiquitous USA WW2 Army GMC CCKW was a classic for these type of rims and needed the rim to be depressed before the lockring could be knocked out ( Thankfully these type of rims is now largely outlawed as they can be lethal if they go!!) logic was that you could field replace a tyre but... as everyone knows what works on paper and works in the field is not always the same!

'Bead'! That's the word I was looking for.

As to the danger of the locking rims ...yes, a friend of mine was killed by one

Yes breaking the bead as it looks like the jack and ring structure is acting on the tyre inner circumfrence, the wheel and tyre are in a cage for the reason Tigger mentions above.
Looks like an aircraft tyre to me though - Liberator or similar?

The 381 in the photo number suggests 381st BG, Ridgewell so probably from a B-17.

I don't think it's a cage as such, just a strong framework.
As far as I remember from my training the dangers with split rims occurred only during initial inflation, during which time they were supposed to be caged.