[SAMPSON]

Hi,heres a article from Model Maker which seems to contradict the general info we have on the first Scalextric sets made. First the photo shows a set with what looks like a transformer not the battery box. The push button controllers are there. Then the set has both the Ferrari & Maserati in it, not the 2 Ferraris as has been mentioned before with the Maseratis being made a little later. The box top seems the same. This issue of Model Maker is April 1957 3 months after the "official start "January 1957. What do you think. i have a early pre Triang set with both the Maserati & Ferrari. Thanks,Bernard

 

[loosesalute]

Interesting Bernard.
I can`t tell if that`s a vintage transformer or an old type battery pack? I can`t see a plug?
I believe vintage sets were sold without transformers because of the old UK purchase tax laws.
Fab article though!! Thanks for sharing.
Cheers
Kev

 

[floydfan]

I'm fairly certain my first set (Christmas 1958) didn't have a transformer. I think we used the one from my Tri-ang train set. My set was a figure-of-eight but with a crossover with a huge dead section in the middle so a good run was needed to cross it. I remember being allowed to take it to school a few months later and being the envy of the class!

Floydfan

 

[Rob J]

Do you have the last page of the article, Bernard? P195 or whatever. It may mention the power supply.
My guess is that the power unit in the set is a battery box, perhaps for eight D batteries. There's no sign of a mains lead or a plug, as Kev says. The trackside building-style battery box presumably came later.
Not sure about 1957 but in the 1960s sets were sold without transformers because the latter were exempt from purchase tax (or were taxed a lower rate), and perhaps also because many people (like Floydfan) already had rail transformers.
Rob J

 

[dgersh]

Just saw an anticle in an English magazine from December 63, in which all the sets are still given with the transformer as an extra...

Bernard, the magazine article may have just been about a prototype set, that was never actually released. There was a lot ot that in the magazines...

Just looked at the last page. The sentence in question says: Usual mains operation is available by transformer, or the cars will run happily - and for long periods - on normal bell batteries.

Hmm, not all that clear, but looking at the article, this is still a pre-production set...

Don

 

[SAMPSON]

Hi,heres the last page. What of the set having 1 of each car ? Any ideals ? Thanks,Bernard