Closest thing to RC in 1920

[Clintd]

Going through all my stuff in my den and came across my Great Grandfathers 1920 Structo Roadster model 12.
This was a kit you would buy for $10.00 in 1920 and build yourself with basic tools included in the kit. has a 2 speed transmission, steerable front wheels and a windup spring engine. figured some of you guys might get a kick out of it.

1920 structo car side

• Clintd
• Jan 1, 2016
• 1

1920 strict car wind up crank

• Clintd
• Jan 1, 2016

1920 structo car bottom

• Clintd
• Jan 1, 2016
• 2

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• Clintd
• Jan 1, 2016
• 1

 

[slowngreen]

Metal diffs in stock form, win!

 

[cbaker65]

Awsome!
Have never seen one of those ,however I've seen the old tether cars an are worth a lot of money
for what I seen on American pickers.

 

[Clintd]

Amazingly enough there are places that still have parts for these kits.

 

[Rolex]

Wow, that's beautiful! What a piece of work for a kid with a rich father.

 

[Racer 1966]

Very cool!! Thanks for posting.

 

[HPIguy]

That's really cool!

 

[Caretaker109]

Wow, really looks great.
Is it still working?

$10 in the 1920's. was a lot of money at the time...

 

[Clintd]

It works, but one gear is missing in the transmission for the high speed. actually searching for one now, might as well get everything working in the den.

 

[Clintd]

turns out 2 gears are missing and I found the gears on a site called Classic Tin Toy Co. The funny thing is in the toy car instructions it list the whole transmission for $3.00, but now it cost me $42.50 shipped for 2 tiny gears

 

[Rolex]

Well, back in 1920, $3 was WAY more than a day's pay. During the depression in the 1930s $5 a week was a real success story.

 

[Clintd]

Well, back in 1920, $3 was WAY more than a day's pay. During the depression in the 1930s $5 a week was a real success story.

I'd be one of the people in line for the $5.00 per day jobs at the Ford plant!!

 

[Rolex]

I'd be one of the people in line for the $5.00 per day jobs at the Ford plant!!

Absolutely, but that toy car would have been WAY out of your budget. Any idea what it's worth now?

 

[Clintd]

Absolutely, but that toy car would have been WAY out of your budget. Any idea what it's worth now?

My uncle said he was told its worth about $300.00 because it's not the original paint. It's suppose to be orange

 

[Rolex]

It wouldn't look good in orange. It's beautiful the way it is.
Hmmm....big shocks, 40 series tires and a nitro engine....

 

[Nitro4910]

Sweet! It's amazing it's in that good a shape and has survived all this time.

Thanks for posting it and the pics of it!

 

[ninnon]

That's brilliant- looks like one of these, except these are steam powered, they still make them:

 

[Clintd]

That's brilliant- looks like one of these, except these are steam powered, they still make them:

I had a Mamod steam engine when I was a kid! Thought it was great and ran all kinds of stuff off of it, then during a storm the fan in my window fell inside and destroyed it. To make matters worse the hobby shop I bought it from closed down and there wasn't any place close that carried them. keep in mind this was 1987 and a lot further away then a mouse click now.

 

[ninnon]

I had a Mamod steam engine when I was a kid! Thought it was great and ran all kinds of stuff off of it, then during a storm the fan in my window fell inside and destroyed it. To make matters worse the hobby shop I bought it from closed down and there wasn't any place close that carried them. keep in mind this was 1987 and a lot further away then a mouse click now.

I still have one- a SR-1A. Still works, got fuel for it and everything.