5 replies to this topic

[don.siegel]

I always thought Kemtron was one of the more underappreciated companies in the history of slot racing. Their brass chassis introduced a lot of people to scratch-building starting in 1963 - and they work very well! Their motors, made in Japan, were also widely used and were cheaper than the competing Pittman and Ram models. Probably faster on a road course as well, from what I've seen, although their reputation for reliability wasn't as good. 
 
Anyway, just picked up this master catalog from 1957, and there's bits on the company's history, name, its complete product line (I just show the motors page, pre-Japan), early commercial tie-in (Toonerville Trolley), and some amazing rail cars! Wonder if any of those survive? 
 
Don 
 

 

 

 

 

[havlicek]

Definitely some neat stuff, Don. I've only had the Mustangs in front of me (Maybe a Bronco... can't remember), but they are, for me, the nicest looking of the type motors. Lots of neat-o brass and detailing makes me think they'd be expensive as all get-out to manufacture today.

 

-john

[Hworth08]

Nice post! It could be said Dynamic had the fastest but Kemtron had the most elegant.

 

I wonder if they are still making train pieces? Sometimes I get directed to their train pages on eBay and there's usually a lot of auctions.

[boxerdog]

I vaguely remember a trip to Kemtron when I was a kid and first getting into slot racing. They offered motors and chassis kits, and they were only an hour or so away... plus there were several great tracks to visit in Fresno.

 

So my older friends threw me in a car and away we went. I was very impressed by the brass castings and the chassis kits, but the early motors had a few design issues, although they were very fast back then. It was the era of "Japanese junk" and many of the foreign motors were not up to the task (yet, as we later found out).

 

They did correct most of these problems, but the can motors were coming...

[Lone Wolf]

Don, thanks for sharing, very cool.
 
I think Flora Maroot made me stay after class for causing a rumpus in third grade. 
 
OK, I was immediately drawn to the HO Thomas Flyer, ain't never seen one of them before.
 
Just looking quick I found these: Notice the first one has a twisted stack like a Lindsay.
 
HO Scale Kemtron Brass Thomas Flyer Railcar MOW Speeder for Part/Repair
 
HO Scale Kemtron Sales Bass Thomas Flyer Rail-Auto

[don.siegel]

Good search, Joe. That does indeed seem to be the Lindsay motor... and now we know they sold at least two of them! 
 
Don