8 replies to this topic

[mrtc4w]

I recently aquired a Hoffman slot car box:





I am not familiar with the history of these boxes. Was it a bussiness? An individual? Were they available nationwide?

I am not planning on keeping this box. I will probably take it to one of the slot car shows. Any opinions of the worth? More pics at:

Hoffman Slot Car Box

Thanks,
Marty

[TSR]

Hoffman boxes were fishing tackle boxes. When the slot car fad took hold, Hoffman made versions for slot car use with different separations in the drawers. They were produced in two main sizes, a smaller box used for 1/32 scale models.
Their market value varies greatly with condition and the decals applied to them. A mint one brings a good $150.00 nowadays and that can go up depending on the stickers/decals on it, while distressed ones can go as low as $20.00. Yours looks like in fair condition, well used, but that has its charm for some collectors, I would guess it would bring $40.00 to $50.00.
The contents as you show are not worth much, maybe a total with a bit of luck of $125.00.

[Mopar Rob]

About 3 weeks ago on Ebay one sold for something like $47. Keep in mind that it had been listed for three weeks in a row, with the first two weeks it not making reserve and topping out at around $25. For the third week the acution started at $45 without any reserve

[mrtc4w]

Thanks for the info.

I am also not familiar with two of the motors. The little Pittman:



What model is it?

and the bigger something other:



I have since found both brush holders. One of them still has the brush on it. Is it just a spring that keeps tension on the brushes or is it more elaborate?

Thanks,
Marty

[Bill from NH]

Marty, I'd say they were pretty much available nationwide. I still have the one I bought in Massachusetts during the early 1970s. That raceway, Modelville Hobby, would have gotten it from REHCO in Cincinnati.

[don.siegel]

Marty,

The first Pittman is a DC65, very popular at one time for 1/24 cars and even a few 1/32 brutes; plus, the 6V version of the armature was put in Pittman DC196 motors and this was the hot setup until the rewound Mabuchi came along.

The other one is a Pittman DC706, a very common motor, and the third in the series, after the DC704 and DC705... it could also be reversed so the axle was behind the motor instead of the middle of it.

Neither are worth a lot in this condition and without the boxes. A new Pittman of this type in the box might go for $20 to $25, although they've gone higher too - depends on when they're listed! The 706 is more common, because it came out after the Pittmans were already becoming kind of obsolete, so lots of old stock remained in hobby shobs and distributors. The 65 is a bit rarer, but not all that uncommon. In fact, in 64 or so, there was a "Pittman shortage" because it seems the US government had dibs on Pittman motor production, rather than the poor slot racers...

Don

[TSR]

Marty,
The little Pittman is a DC66, and the larger one a DC706. They are pretty common stuff. The DC66 arm was really good and often used as a hop-up part in the later DC196B motors.

[Big E]

I recently aquired a Hoffman slot car box:





I am not familiar with the history of these boxes. Was it a bussiness? An individual? Were they available nationwide?

I am not planning on keeping this box. I will probably take it to one of the slot car shows. Any opinions of the worth? More pics at:

Hoffman Slot Car Box

Thanks,
Marty

Sorry to hear you're not gonna keep the box. Maybe I bought it from you at a recent show! I have three of these beautifully crafted boxes, I am currently using two for HO racing and the other for 1/32. These boxes closed almost 'refrigerator tight', and I remember the pro racers of the sixties using them. I dreamed of having one as a kid. I had one that belonged to the late Jose Rodrigues, Jr. in my hands, loaded with his hand made stuff, but I couldn't cover the asking price (not that it wasn't worth it!). I believe Paramount used to make plywood fishing tackle boxes and then jumped in with the advent of the slotcar boom of the 60's; that's the story I've always heard. Probably the finest slot boxes made until the modern stuff made with high-tech manufacturing techniques. Let's have fun out there... -- Ernie

[Big E]

Sorry to hear you're not gonna keep the box. Maybe I bought it from you at a recent show! I have three of these beautifully crafted boxes, I am currently using two for HO racing and the other for 1/32. These boxes closed almost 'refrigerator tight', and I remember the pro racers of the sixties using them. I dreamed of having one as a kid. I had one that belonged to the late Jose Rodrigues, Jr. in my hands, loaded with his hand made stuff, but I couldn't cover the asking price (not that it wasn't worth it!). I believe Paramount used to make plywood fishing tackle boxes and then jumped in with the advent of the slotcar boom of the 60's; that's the story I've always heard. Probably the finest slot boxes made until the modern stuff made with high-tech manufacturing techniques. Let's have fun out there... -- Ernie

Please, Jose Jr., forgive me for misspelling your name! Enjoy racing up there in the clouds, you taught us all with your writing and your racing. Peace -- Ernie