You've got to grin to get it in

That's what she said! Hahahaha. Oh wait, that doesn't work.  Anyway, Wagon Wheels.  For the millionth time, I've just heard someone complaining about the shrinking of the Wagon Wheel.  Is this an actual occurrence or merely a trick of the cerebrum, remembering a larger Wheel in your infantile hands? Well, I intend to find out. 

They were launched in 1948, at the Olympia Food Fair no less. (Sorry, what?) The manufacturers, Burtons Foods, have issued a number of statements saying the dimensions of the Wagon Wheel has remained unchanged in the in intervening 60 years. (Ooo. Wagon Wheels are as old as Prince Charles.  What are the chances?)  Why would they lie?

Well, the Australian Wagon Wheel, albeit since 2003 produced by a different company, measures 88mm in diameter.  Compared to it's 74mm pommie cousin, it is definitely more like we "remember."  At some point, someone decided they would make them in Australia, and in a simpler time, presumably, used the same specifications of the UK wheel. Unless someone invents a time machine, we'll never know.  (I think this is probably the best use for such a machine, should any Quantum Leapers be making significant progress.) But wait!  The Aussie Wheel is 4 whole millimeters thinner than ours!  4mm!  That's nearly half a centimetre of chocolatey-mallowy goodness.  Stitch that Kylie!

So what does all this mean?  Well, if the UK and Aussie wheels were ever the same size, then ours has shrunk, but got fat.  Like a pensioner.  But there may be more to it than that.  In the early 1980's the UK Wheel seized being produced in Slough, and began being made in South Wales.  No, I'm not blaming the Welsh for shrinking Wagon Wheels.  The new factory stopped using the Slough technique of crinkling the edges, and went for a smoother edge, this reducing the size of the wheel marginally!

This is however, not the reason they seem smaller to my generation.  They were being made in the smoother mould long before I was old enough to be eating Wagon Wheels.  Also, we are talking millimeters difference, so unless you are Rain Man, you wouldn't have noticed. "Smaller, definitely smaller AHH!"  

So, that's that.  Wagon wheels are probably the same size they've possibly always been, maybe.  Conclusive huh? No need to thank me.