18 replies to this topic

[mreibman]

Was sent these two pictures of a controller and asked what it was.

 

I have not seen this before.

 

Any ideas? Hopefully from actual experience.

 

 

 

 

[SpeedyNH]

Looks like something from Tilt N Tech, who also made track power reduction units using similar multi-TO-3 case xistor heatsinks.

[Jim Difalco]

Tilt n Tech is correct. Designed by my friend and mentor Bob Scheller. Bob was was really good with ideas and controller designs. As you can see the controller has a pot on the trigger pivot instead of a resistor board, the first that I know of to use this design. Before that, he made a controller with two wiper arms. The usual one on the front and then another facing the opposite way that contacted the back circuit. This was to eliminate the small control wire coming off the wiper arm.

 

The name Tilt was because Bob had an amusement company and arcade business along with various raceways. His first game room was upstairs in the same building as Elmsford Raceway. I worked there in my teens, as did Kallio, Jim Damerrell, Gelman, and others. We were paid to make change but we spent just as much time learning to play Foosball.

 

One winter night we were playing foos and I was taking a break from the game and standing in the doorway of the arcade. All of a sudden the roof crashed in on top of the bowling lanes right in front of me with ceiling tiles crashing down and electrical conduit and lights hanging from the ceiling. Even though the roof was shaped like a big curve, the snow had built up so much weight that it collapsed. We went back to playing foosball for another 20 minutes or so until the fire department kicked us out of the building. Good memories.

[mreibman]

Thanks, gentlemen!

[Jim Difalco]

Mike,

 

Is the owner looking to sell the controller? I might be interested in adding it to my collection.

[mreibman]

I don't know yet... will find out in relatively short order.

[Rob Voska]

Why would it have two transistors?

[rmjlmartin]

Jim Difalco, on 02 Nov 2022 - 3:53 PM, said:

s the owner looking to sell the controller? I might be interested in adding it to my collection.

 
Jim,

I just ran across the controller on eBay, so it does look like it's for sale.
 
Parma Tilt N Tech Controller

[Rob Voska]

Sorry, four transistors? Wow, what a voltage drop.

[Jim Difalco]

The transistors are in parallel to handle more amperage and the voltage drop does not add together.

[Jim Difalco]

At $100 starting bid, my nostalgia for my friend's controller just took a bit of a hit.
 
Bob had a lot of great concepts but his workmanship left a bit to be desired.

[rmjlmartin]

Funny how a lot of people seem to think they should be able to get premium prices for obsolete slot car parts and equipment, isn't it?

[Bill from NH]

Jason,

A quick look at eBay slot car items has told us all the same thing for years.  

[rmjlmartin]

Yes, and it's equally amusing what some people will actually pay sometimes. Too bad I can never get anyone to pay inflated prices for stuff I sell...

[MSwiss]

Jason,

Just like the guy selling the controller, you need a great eBay name that inspires buyers to overpay. LOL.

[Bill Seitz]

In the late 60's, I bought a Thoric electronic controller that was on a close-out special. This controller had a rather unique shape, and the trigger was attached directly to the pot. It was described as being capable of thumb or finger operation. Almost the entire handle was molded plastic with only a small perforated aluminum plate inset on one side to which a germanium power transistor was affixed. Inside, the trigger had a nub that actuated a single-pole, double throw leaf switch arrangement that switched from brake to power. The was also a high and low band sensitivity slider switch.

 

I was in my early teens at the time, years before my interest and education in electronics, but in hindsight, there was so little heat dissipator, and the germanium transistors of the day had so little power dissipation, that this was clearly only capable of handling the mild motors in the early to mid-'60's.

 

However, I believe this well pre-dates the Tilt N Tech controller in having a trigger pot.

[Jim Difalco]

I guess it does. It was years before I even knew of slot racing.

[rmjlmartin]

The controller is back on Ebay again, a little cheaper this time. I'll post links if it keeps getting relisted with lower prices.

 

https://www.ebay.com...em=234770583191

[rmjlmartin]

It's back on Ebay, a lot cheaper this time. Maybe cheap enough for a bit of nostalgia?

 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234802424886