29 replies to this topic

[Pitt Man]

Hi guys,

I received this NOS Pittman motor today.

Tried fitting it in a JK hypoid mount, but only the shaft will fit...



So then I thought, maybe it would fit my Champion Indy frame... nope.



As a last resort, perhaps my Parma International 32... almost, but the shaft is too long.



OK, pardon my humor.

This is a very old Pittman DC-8, so old in fact, it's the first time I've seen this address on a Pittman box. I can't date it yet, but someday I'll figure it out.



This behemoth is HUGE. A .250" diameter shaft, magnet is 1.62" diameter x 1.25" long and weighs in at over 1.6 pounds! Stole it for a song on the 'bay.

Anybody have info on this motor or Pittman address?

[TSR]

O-gauge train motor from 1955-62...

[Steve Deiters]

DC-8? Wasn't that an airliner? That motor is big enough to be one!

Please submit to the IRRA™ technical committee for approval.

[TSR]

At least it's not an AC-8!

[Pablo]

That's the wrong JK bracket, try a non-hypoid JK

[68Caddy]

I would try a larger scale myself!

Nesta

[Hworth08]

I got a Ram 850 (Pittman 85) a month or so ago and thought it was big. Now I'm pretty deflated!

[Ramcatlarry]

Not sure what the part number is, but I have an old Pittman fitted to a 1/24 Strombecker M-B F1 body that DOES fill the frame... about 1 inch cube magnet.

[Pitt Man]

Hey guys,
 
It took me a while to figure the age of this motor.
 
The Nippon St., Philadelphia, address seems to match up with this pic from 1950.
 
That would make this motor a pre war build between 1935 and 1941.
 
This is my only Pittman that does not carry the Sellersville address on the box.
 
Workin' out of his house?? How cool, thank you, Charles!  Job well done!
 
Hmmm, wonder if the DC-8 written on the box was by Charlie himself and who wound it, assembled, and painted it???
 
By the way, back then 6 volt trains were common. This monster really sings on 12v.

[Pitt Man]

Here is a shot of the packaging from 75 years ago, still in fairly nice condition.
 
I'd say ol' Charlie took a lot of pride in his products, setting the standard for Pittman quality.

[Hworth08]

Maybe some who were there can maybe add some "facts" but I believe Mr. Pittman might have enjoyed slot racing. IIRC he attended the Potato Chip race and was mentioned being in attendance at a couple other races.

[tonyp]

I don't believe the slot racing Pittman had anything to do with the motor company.

[Cheater]

Tony,

I don't think you are correct on that. Pretty sure the Pittman slot car motors were repurposed/developed from the company's model train motor designs.

PdL will know, or perhaps Alan Schwartz (Ecurie Martini at Slotblog), who has the first Pittman motor developed for slot car use. I'll ask them to chime in...

Being the youngster that I am, this was all before my time... LOL!

[Pitt Man]

The way I figure it, Charlie Jr. would be well over 100 years old.
 
Perhaps you're referring to Charlie III, here's a shot I found years ago from what I recall was a drag race meet in the 60's. 
 
Sorry about the quality, this is a pic of a blown up pic printed out years ago!
 
It would be wonderful to hear any stories about the Pittman clan.

[Ecurie Martini]

The Pittman model RR motors and slot car motors were from the same firm located in Sellersville, PA.
 
The story is HERE.
 
The gentleman mentioned therein was Charles Pittman Jr.
 
EM

[TSR]

From what I have gathered, there are three generations, all by the name of Charles Pittman. The grandfather Charles Pittman (nothing to do with the motors) had a son, Charles W. Pittman Jr., who started the company in 1934.

Junior was the guy in charge in the 1960s when model-train motors were adapted for slot car use.

Charles III was his son and indeed participated to slot car races as depicted in period magazines. His physical traits as seen above are also very similar to those of his father and grandfather.

I could however find no trace of any members of the family after Junior sold the company in 1970, as business on the slot car side had tanked, taking away with it much of rhe model-train business. Pittman had government contracts and returned to that business.

[Gator Bob]

The Nippon St. address IS a residence.
 
OMG  - The DC-8 looks like a starter motor less the drive and solenoid. AND... BTW... it's legal for the proxy. LOL.

[bluecars]

 Wonder if anyone ever tried drag racing starter motors? If people will race belt sanders they'll race anything.

[Cheater]

The DC-8 looks like a starter motor less the drive and solenoid. AND... BTW... it's legal for the proxy.

We joke about "a slot car knocking down the wall" but with this motor in a car, I believe it actually could happen!

[Pitt Man]

Gator Bob, you got me thinkin'.
 
Here's the birthplace of Pittman motors.
 
A cool old stone home built in 1925.
 
Thank you, Google Earth!

[Pitt Man]

Check out the unique brush spring set up on this motor. Appears to be round tipped Bakelite plungers with a coil spring between them, entrapped by the casting.
 
Also, the wire checks to be #23 awg. What I find most impressive is the comm. I have not cleaned it, yet it shines like a diamond.

[Cheater]

Five-pole armature?

[Pitt Man]

This is actually a seven-pole powerhouse, Greg. Arm diameter of 1.510".
 
Amazingly enough, the magnet still has good snap to it.
 
Ol' Charlie did 'em right.

[George Blaha]

Hey Bob Steere,
 
The lower edge that is on an angle would be mounted to the base of the railroad engine to facilitate the use of worm gears for a short space. I never used this one in particular but I have used similar-sized motors in train conversions. Maybe a JK Mack truck or car hauler might be a better fit.
 
Shakey George

[Pitt Man]

Thanks, George, but this rare old beast will probably stay in its box until my heirs figure out what to do with it!

[Gator Bob]

Pittman,

 

Remind the 'kids' not to drop that one on their toe.

 

I don't do Photoshop-ping but a Pittman Precision 'shingle' would look right on the house... LOL.

[don.siegel]

Hi Pitt, 

 

Excellent detective work, and a very impressive motor. 

 

Don 

[proptop]

Those pics in post #21 remind me of something I've seen at the Hoover Dam... or maybe in the basement (dynamo room?) of the Empire State building...

[Pitt Man]

Hey guys,
 
I found a few more cool old pics doing one of my late night Pittman internet searches.
 
I discovered that there is a Sellersville, PA, museum that has a small Pittman display!
 
Sellersville was always a small town (now over 4,000 population) so the Pittman factory was a big fish in a small pond.
 
Here are shots of Charles Pittman Jr. AKA "Al," the Sellersville factory, a young man checking armatures, and a shot of the museum's display.
 
Now I have one more reason to do an east coast run in my future.

[Gator Bob]

Great finds!

 

I'll be back...

 

I love the "PITMO" 3 pole logo.