# Taxi cab hubcap ads

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxi-cab-hubcap-ads/29548>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 16, 2000, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxi-cab-hubcap-ads/29548 "2000-08-16T09:53:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Astroglide](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6de8d8/32.png) [@Astroglide](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroglide)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxi-cab-hubcap-ads/29548/1 "2000-08-16T09:53:35Z")

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Here in Okinawa, the taxi cabs have starting advertising a company on hubcaps. They look like some kind of shell that fits where a hubcap usually would go. It’s the first time I’ve seen this particular method of propaganda distribution.

What I can’t figure out is how they stay upright. The ads stay orientated while the wheels turn. When the car takes off, they roll a little clockwise, not far though. It’s gotta be simple, else I would imagine prohibitive costs.

I’m seriously considering taking one off a cab, just to see how the damn things are put together. Save me from yet another foray into a foreign nation’s legal system and tell me how these freaky things work!

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**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxi-cab-hubcap-ads/29548/2 "2000-08-16T09:58:53Z")

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My guess is that he sign is weighted at the bottom and pivots around the center.

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**Author:** ![KeithT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KeithT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithT)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxi-cab-hubcap-ads/29548/3 "2000-08-17T04:25:15Z")

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**Astroglide** , the concept of a shell of sorts fitting over a wheel hub is nothing new; I know I’ve seen odometers mounted on semitrailer wheel hubs for as long as I can remember.

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**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2000, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxi-cab-hubcap-ads/29548/4 "2000-08-17T07:02:51Z")

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My WAG: Weld a rim just inside the rim of the wheel. Build a hubcap with a ball bearing clutch in it. Put a lead weight at the bottom. Pop it in place and off you go.

–Tim

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**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taxi-cab-hubcap-ads/29548/5 "2000-08-19T20:09:25Z")

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Astroglide, I was in a Wal-Mart the other day, and I saw a product named after you. It was a liquid on the “personal lubricants” shelf. Did they steal your name, or did you name yourself for a personal lubricant?