144 replies to this topic

[Steve Okeefe]

Jim,

 

I will be happy to make the change you suggest...  if and when I see one of these guides in an unopened Rannalli package, or advertised in a vintage slot racing magazine or published catalog.

 

The information on these illustrated charts (example: Pickup Guides) was gleaned from published sources available to anyone, and is intended to reflect what the slot racer would see and have available to them when:

 

1. They went to their local raceway and bought (or ordered) parts or kits.

 

2. They would read slot racing magazines (such as Car Model or Model Car & Track) and retailer catalogs (such as Auto World).

 

These charts are not intended to reflect all of the shenanigans, legal maneuvering, obscure patents, rumors and manufactured vaporware that went on behind the scenes (and there sure was a lot of it )

 

I would be pleased to make some room in my sandbox and ask Greg to set up a section for you within The Independent Scratchbuilder for all this good information you've been digging up - or if you prefer you can ask him to set you up your own separate section on SlotBlog.

 

Either way is okay with me. 

[TSR]

Steve, there is no need since those guides are not a Rannalli product.
The patent is for a chassis using a Japanese built drop arm that was later sold separately by Cox, as Fred supplied them with those parts. Later Fred went to work for Cox after the crash in 1968. He became production manager. He was still the production manager when I worked there in the early 1970s.



The car was first available in 1964 as a rolling chassis, then a RTR.
In early 1965, the round-tube chassis was replaced with a new, Japanese made, square tubing job, and this is how most of these cars or chassis are being found today.



Please note that by the time the updated 1965 car was released, the guide flag was different, now an item obtained from Cox (the one for a "T" slot). Stock number "65-05" reflects date of production.
Hence you can cross any idea that Rannalli made that "Dynamic" guide, that Dynamic did not make either! 

[don.siegel]

P, don't think that Cox guide was for a T slot - it was just another period gadget to offer better road holding in corners. It wasn't wide enough for T slots - just wide enough to get in the way if the slot was a bit undersized! 

 

Don 

[TSR]

Don, I am pretty convinced that the Cox guide, as several others with the same feature by smaller odd companies, were designed for the AMCRC T-slot tracks... but of course it is a personal opinion. 

[tjallen]

Here is a Rannalli chassis of a very similar type.

Interestingly enough, it does not have the same pickup.

 

[TSR]

Jimmy,
those guides are the ones made BY Rannalli in 1966, and are found inside all their car kits. These chassis are marked "subsidiary of Craft Master Corp.", meaning that they date from 1966. The RTR car I showed was from 1965 before Fred sold most of his company to those guys, who then dumped the whole thing by end of the 1967 year back onto Fred.

[tjallen]

Hi Steve,

yes I have followed and enjoyed your research of published sources about all these pickups. When I saw the Rannalli patent pickup matched one of yours, I thought to alert you to the coincidence.

 

and TSR thanks for helping me track down that Rannalli item.

 

I can post things to the slotblog General History area in the future.

Jimmy

[Mad Mark]

Any idea what this is?

[Martin]

I was sure it was Dynamic, like these in the pic below (notice narrow rear and triangle rear). But yours has a squared-off rear end. So now I must rethink that a bit.

 

Probably still Dynamic as the front is the same design.

 

[Martin]

This just showed up on an AMT chassis. Dynamic Models Inc., a division of AMT.

 

 

[Mad Mark]

This just showed up on an AMT chassis.Dynamic Models Inc, A Division of AMT.

That looks like it Martin! good eye!

[TSR]

"Any idea what this is?

Standard Champion guide.

 

[Martin]

Philippe, I see a bit of a difference in the Champion and the one Mark was trying to identify.

 

The Champion that is on Steve's chart has slots, Mark's is set back where the braid would sit, like the Dynamic. Also the island that separates the braid is parallel, no indent.

 

Do you see what I see? I am not saying it is Dynamic/AMT but it just does not match what Steve has identified as Champion.

 

 

[Martin]

Circumstantial I know, but I just found another AMT car with that same guide that Mark was trying to ID.

 

Again open in the front and the braid separator is not notched like the Champion.

 

 

[TSR]

Martin, yes, the Champion guide has slots for the braided contacts, I missed looking that detail. The guide in question is a standard AMT guide, used on all their 1966 1/24 and 1/32 scale cars and kits.

[Martin]

Thank you, Philippe, for taking a second look.

 

So now you know, Mark, your guide is from AMT.

[Speedy]

In what year were guide clips first used on the leadwires?

[Steve Deiters]

Clips first appeared in the early 1970's... '71 or '72.

[dc-65x]

So far............the earliest photo I've found for the use of lead wire clips is this 1970 Jerry Brady  Pro Car:

 

 

Because I hate stuffing the wires into the holes in the guide I follow Brady's lead whenever I can.   

[TSR]

Jerry Brady is also, I believe, the first to have used a one-piece spring-steel center section on his chassis.