Old Cast Iron Racers

Sunday, May 26, 2013
         (Indy 500 Race- USA)
(USA Holiday Monday May 27) 

Old Cast Iron Racers

   I just remembered that today is the famous Indy 500 race in Speedway, Indiana, USA.  This race has been running since 1911.  It's sometimes called "the Brick Yard". The reason for this name was that initially, the raceway had 3, 200,000 paving bricks for the racetrack. The first president of the raceway, Mr.  Carl Graham Fisher who also was a parts designer (GM  or General Motors - Body by Fisher). The purpose of the bricks as for better safety on the course. There are still bricks that have remained on the course as a memento of times long ago, but they now function more as symbols that for safety.  The course is  two and a half miles in length, with four turns of 1/4 mile that create a sort of rectangular shape. The race is more one of speed than endurance or strategy as the formula 1 races. Very fast speeds are achieved, and the racers are always alert for dangers thst in the past have claimed lives! 

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The car above has what simulated fire form the pistons. An irregularly-shaped front axle moves to push 2 moveable rods that move up and down. The red projections that you see coming through the hood (bonnet in Britain) move up and down as the toy is pulled. If you look closely, there is a small hold for a piece of cord to be attached at the front of the car.

You can see the similarity of the "elevated projections" on the hood of this car. to the first green car.

Notice that the 2 cars above are the same, but for a missing reflector in the top car. I mentioned in a previous post, that it's important to visit  the auctioneers that I write about or go to Liveauctioneers. In this way, you can look at the same toy from many different sellers, and see what is the complete condition and parts to that particular model.

The above car has the removable side panels. This allows you to see inside the engine compartment.

Notice that these 2 cars have different colour combinations., so that a child would have a choice when selecting this particular toy. The small hole at the front of the core is again for a string attachment, as this is also a "pull toy".

Once again, I've presented 2 "almost" identical cars. However, in this case, the tires or wheels are different. So the question for you, the potential buyer would be to find out if:

1. 1 car was more costly or valuable than the other

2. Perhaps someone added replavcement wheels which never really came with this particularr car

Here is a trio of 3 similar Champion toy racers. Once again you can see different variations of the dsmae toy. The top and bottom cars have painted drivers, compared with the nickel-plated middle car. As well, the car at the top has nickel-plated wheels, compared with its 2 lower siblings, which have rubber tires mounted on  red wooden hubs (rims). 

When I was buying and selling old toys on E-Bay, I was able to purchase most of the toys above from the last 2 composite photos. These particular toys are not expensive (costly), but they're nice to see "up close" or to collect. 

That's a very nice  A.C. Williams racer! 

Sometimes, the proportions and scale (relative size dimensions to the "real car") are not precise. I like the exaggerated hood ornament and the size of the driver relative to the smaller-sized car.

Last but not least are a trio of small, but nice cars. Unlike the next generation of toys that were to come later, these 1920-1930's cars were much simpler in design and construction. The "real" cars were of course, simpler, but also the process of making moulds with for molten cast iron was limiting. As such, only so much detail could be reproduced through the process.

However, for children of that day, and myself today, I still like the "simplicity with elegance" design of these very old toys!

So I finish by with the famous works of the start at the Indy Raceway -   

Gentlemen, start your engines!

Thanks for dropping by, 

and I hope you all have had a restful Sunday or whatever day you 

may be dropping by to visit. 

And to my  viewers, have a happy and pleasant 

Memorial Day holiday tomorrow. 

Stacey