The Ford Barn

Doug in NJ · 09-24-2010, 11:19 PM

Here's a very interesting article about "spindizzies". I had never heard of them!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/au.../26TETHER.html

Doug

Ken Ehrenhofer · 09-24-2010, 11:56 PM

thanks for sharing that looks like a car we had as kids (my dads)
very interesting,
Ken

Preacher · 09-25-2010, 08:02 AM

Yes, very interesting as I had never heard of them before. unbelievable speed! I am dreaming of that yard sale too!

Rusty Homestead Fl · 09-25-2010, 11:26 AM

Anyone remember the Schuco Midget racers? They were a free running wind up that were outlawed on the play grounds where I lived in the 50's.(LA) They were like rockets and suposedly injured anybody that got in their path.

Russ/40 · 09-25-2010, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty Homestead Fl

Anyone remember the Schuco Midget racers? They were a free running wind up that were outlawed on the play grounds where I lived in the 50's.(LA) They were like rockets and suposedly injured anybody that got in their path.

I remember them well. VERY fast little wind-up cars. Years ago I looked for a new source. Never could find them. You'd think they would as popular today as they ever were.

MrTube · 09-25-2010, 11:54 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I wasn't around until the 80s so I cannot speak for the original ones, but I've seen these around. They go around a circle track, held by a tether. A person stands in the middle and helps it get going, once its going he jumps up out of the way of the tether line and it just goes and goes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T31juxlQuGA

Rusty Homestead Fl · 09-25-2010, 02:20 PM

Good Grief TUBE !!!
Hope they use a NASA approved line for that tether. If that thing got loose you'd have to look in the next state for it!!

BillLee/Chandler, TX · 09-25-2010, 02:55 PM

These are properly known as "tether cars", not "rc car" as the video labeled them. There is nothing "rc" (i.e., radio controlled) about them. The wire on which they run is very heavy piano wire, probably at least 1/16" thick. If you note the track, there is a barrier right adjacent to the track of the car as well as a substantial fence adjacent to the site.

Two track in the U.S. I am aware of: one in Anderson, IN and the other at Whittier Narrows Park in South Elmonte (i.e., Los Angeles) California. If you have a chance to see one of these guys run in person, take it!

james hitchcock · 09-25-2010, 03:16 PM

I have a car that also would have been run on a tether. Mine has the name "thimbledrone" one the underside. They ran on a gas powered engine. I played with mine as a kid at my grandmothers. Mine doesn't look as if it ever had the gas engine installed, still very neat.

d.j. moordigian · 09-25-2010, 03:35 PM

Le Roy Sabbatini is a friend of mine, his Museum is worth looking up on Google, a Master
body man an painter, he taught at the local CC in Fresno. A real NEAT guy, look him up!

Dudley

Doug in NJ · 09-25-2010, 09:31 PM

From the text and pictures in that article, it was hard to figure out how these cars were actually powered (apart form the fact they had a model-airplane style engine).

If you go to http://www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/cox_models.htm and scroll down a bit, you will find a nice photo of a disassembled car and a description of the drivetrain.

Doug

09-24-2010, 11:19 PM	#1
Doug in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Princeton, NJ Posts: 965	An article about an unusual type of antique auto Here's a very interesting article about "spindizzies". I had never heard of them! http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/au.../26TETHER.html Doug __________________ My '31 S/W sedan project:http://31ford.dougbraun.com My restoration diary: http://dougbraun.com/blog

09-24-2010, 11:56 PM	#2
Ken Ehrenhofer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Woodstock, Illinois Posts: 597	Re: An article about an unusual type of antique auto thanks for sharing that looks like a car we had as kids (my dads) very interesting, Ken

09-25-2010, 08:02 AM	#3
Preacher Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 198	Re: An article about an unusual type of antique auto Yes, very interesting as I had never heard of them before. unbelievable speed! I am dreaming of that yard sale too! __________________ If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is ... http://tcmafc.org/

09-25-2010, 11:26 AM	#4
Rusty Homestead Fl Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Homestead, Fl Posts: 351	Re: An article about an unusual type of antique auto Anyone remember the Schuco Midget racers? They were a free running wind up that were outlawed on the play grounds where I lived in the 50's.(LA) They were like rockets and suposedly injured anybody that got in their path.

09-25-2010, 11:54 AM	#6
MrTube Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,471	Re: An article about an unusual type of antique auto Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I wasn't around until the 80s so I cannot speak for the original ones, but I've seen these around. They go around a circle track, held by a tether. A person stands in the middle and helps it get going, once its going he jumps up out of the way of the tether line and it just goes and goes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T31juxlQuGA

09-25-2010, 02:20 PM	#7
Rusty Homestead Fl Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Homestead, Fl Posts: 351	Re: An article about an unusual type of antique auto Good Grief TUBE !!! Hope they use a NASA approved line for that tether. If that thing got loose you'd have to look in the next state for it!!

09-25-2010, 02:55 PM	#8
BillLee/Chandler, TX Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: The sticks of east Texas Posts: 474	Re: An article about an unusual type of antique auto These are properly known as "tether cars", not "rc car" as the video labeled them. There is nothing "rc" (i.e., radio controlled) about them. The wire on which they run is very heavy piano wire, probably at least 1/16" thick. If you note the track, there is a barrier right adjacent to the track of the car as well as a substantial fence adjacent to the site. Two track in the U.S. I am aware of: one in Anderson, IN and the other at Whittier Narrows Park in South Elmonte (i.e., Los Angeles) California. If you have a chance to see one of these guys run in person, take it! __________________ Bill Lee http://www.CedarCreekAs.org

09-25-2010, 03:16 PM	#9
james hitchcock Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Visalia Ca. Posts: 617	Re: An article about an unusual type of antique auto I have a car that also would have been run on a tether. Mine has the name "thimbledrone" one the underside. They ran on a gas powered engine. I played with mine as a kid at my grandmothers. Mine doesn't look as if it ever had the gas engine installed, still very neat.

09-25-2010, 03:35 PM	#10
d.j. moordigian Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fresno, Ca. Posts: 3,636	Re: An article about an unusual type of antique auto Le Roy Sabbatini is a friend of mine, his Museum is worth looking up on Google, a Master body man an painter, he taught at the local CC in Fresno. A real NEAT guy, look him up! Dudley

09-25-2010, 09:31 PM	#11
Doug in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Princeton, NJ Posts: 965	Re: An article about an unusual type of antique auto From the text and pictures in that article, it was hard to figure out how these cars were actually powered (apart form the fact they had a model-airplane style engine). If you go to http://www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/cox_models.htm and scroll down a bit, you will find a nice photo of a disassembled car and a description of the drivetrain. Doug __________________ My '31 S/W sedan project:http://31ford.dougbraun.com My restoration diary: http://dougbraun.com/blog