The Mystery Kit!

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whodathunkit
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The Mystery Kit!

Post by whodathunkit »

Ok guys here it is The Mystery Kit!
I could really use all of you guys help here on Derby Talk with this kit & wheels!
There is no price marked on this OFFICIAL Pinewood Derby Kit!
What do you all say about it ?

Top view of kit.
Image
Front view of kit.
Image
Side view of kit.
Image
More photos of this kit and wheel type used!
Image
Close up photo of wheels.
Image
Here is a photo of the two wheel types Top & Right hand side
show the wheels with the wider tread and hubs. Left hand side shows
the narrow tread wheel with no hub.
Image
This photo shows the differance on tread width.
Image

What do you think guys? 1955/56 Or 1960'S
Happy to share this kit with you all on Derby Talk
:scratching: It's a Mystery at Best!!
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MaxV
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by MaxV »

The kit was introduced in 1956, and continued to sell until the 70's. It was made by Beta Crafts. More info at:

http://www.maximum-velocity.com/pinewoo ... tm#feature" target="_blank
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whodathunkit
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by whodathunkit »

My thoughts as well! ( Thank you Randy!)
I'm grateful to share the collection of the Beta Crafts 8 car bulk sets
with you all or anyone intersted in the BSA kit history!

It was because of Randys news letter on this that I set out to find these bulk set kits to share with the kids!
Some one had to do it. Never thought it would be me.
Thanks to Randy!

To learn more about Arthur Hasselbach and CMI Plastics.
You can go to this web site
http://www.cmiplastics.com/about_us.htm" target="_blank
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FatSebastian
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by FatSebastian »

A quick search of Boy's Life magazines suggests that Kit No. 1699 was advertised at least as far back as June 1955 and as late as April 1974.

No doubt the designs on the kit box changed over the years; if so, the box may be more collectible than the contents? This particular box is artfully stylized, from the lettering of "Pinewood Derby" to the cartoonish cars and woodgrain pattern. It would be interesting to know when this kit box was printed: my uneducated guess is early 60's? If there had been an included instruction sheet, that might have been dated.
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whodathunkit
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by whodathunkit »

WOW! Sebastion,

Thanks for the info on the quick search of Boy's Life magazines!
It is most helpful!
Here is the mystery about the wheels used in this kit they have mold numbers
where the earlier wheels do not.
The instruction sheet is not dated as well... But on the bottom of box there is an emblem that reads Boise Cascade followed by the number 1.

Here is a photo of the bottom of the box. Sorry it's not the best of photos!
Image
Here is the instruction sheet from this kit.
Image

Thanks Fat Sebastion. Whoda
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FatSebastian
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by FatSebastian »

whodathunkit wrote:The instruction sheet is not dated as well...
The instruction sheet refers to the "Lion" rank, so that could be a clue as to its age. My impression was that the Lion badge was dropped in 1967.
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whodathunkit
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by whodathunkit »

Man I knew you were cool and would help out Fat Sebastian.
I see where your reading it from now
(Bobcats Wolves Bears Lions And Webelos) right?
Told you I had no clue... But you did!

You know that popcorn you like so well
If I only knew how to get a few bags of them posted on here
I'd share a few bags with you!

Truefuly you guys have been at this race a lot longer then I have
but who better then to ask... Then you guys on Derby Talk!
Thanks for letting me share my collection with you all.
Last edited by whodathunkit on Sat Sep 04, 2010 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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FatSebastian
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by FatSebastian »

whodathunkit wrote:(Bobcats Wolves Bears Lions And Webelows) right?
:nod:

There's another interesting comment at the top: "NOTICE - This plan is the new Pinewood Derby Racing Specification as authorized by the Pinewood Derby Rules Committee. The revisions were made to encourage variation in car design and increase performance." (You already pointed this out in this thread.) This seems to rule out the possibility that this particular kit was one of the very first because it presents a "revised specification." So based on the instruction sheet and box styling together, I'm still wanting to guess early '60s?

Neat stuff, Whoda!
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whodathunkit
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by whodathunkit »

Man my SpElLiNg...( webelos) got to work on that! :whew:
Thank you for sharing that with me Fat Sebastian :nod:

:idk: the true date on this PaTiCkUlEr kit.
But I have a feeling were close enough to call it a tie :thumbup:

:thinking: In 1954 The webelos den was created for 10 -year old Boy's
And yes in 1967 the Cub Scout Advancement program was overhauled.
The Lion rank was discontinued in favor of the new Webelos Scout program!
Happy to share this kit.

Thank you Fat Sebastian & Randy Davis.
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whodathunkit
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by whodathunkit »

After emailing Stephen Hasselbach Sr of CMI plastics to ask questions about this kit here lately!

I was told that this 8 car bulk set kit was not manufactured by .. Beta crafts or Consolidate Models Inc.
And that he had never seen this kit or its wheel type before ..He also said that there were.. What he called knock off kits to the official kits!
And that the concept for making the kits his father made.. were from the Oct 1954 Boy's Life.


The only lead to go off of for the manufacture of this kit type:
The Boise Cascade logo on the bottom of the kit box.. Boise Cascade is a wood products manufacture.. out of Boise Idaho founded in 1957.
I could not find pinewood derby cars in there list of products.

As i kept web browsing I was able to come up with the Orchard wood products Inc, out of Baker City ,OR also founded in 1957.
http://www.orchardwoodproducts.com/about.php
And that pinewood derby cars were listed in there line products.

So i could not have titled this any better then the mystery kit that it still is.
What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
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Re: The Mystery Kit!

Post by Speedster »

Dear Whoda,
Are you going to add to your History book when the Boy Scouts of America hired Revell company to make Pre-Cut cars, wheels and axles. How many models do they have, what the models are, pictures of the models, the Axles and Wheels Made in China and the specs on the wheels and axles. The bores on the China wheels are sometimes so tight I cannot get the wheel on a .0965 Class ZZ Pin Gage from Vermont Gage. I think this would make an interesting Chapter and watch how it might evolve. I'm also interested to see when the vendors are going to start offering the China wheel as an option for scouts who want them, if they ever do.
Sincerely,
Speedster
P.S. I would like to buy an autographed copy of your book.
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whodathunkit
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The Mystery Kit!

Post by whodathunkit »

Speedster, I don't know!

I have played around with the idea!
But it's kinda like the kit seen in the topic.
The more I think I know about it the
more I find out I was even wrong
About it!
But I'm one to keep trying to find out something more about this kit!

It would be nice to discover who made this kit.
Right now I'm still researching the kit.

And I know this kit type is out there..
I've seen them on websites with photos of this kit
But no info about it!

And you know that I have collected cars
With this wheel type as well!






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What type of automobile can be spelled the same forwards & backwards?
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