http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/atd/4879532470.html
I'm going to be taking a look at this little pedal car sometime this week, as I think it could make a good interactive exhibit at a local history museum which I volunteer at. I was unaware that mining railways (looks to be 18" gauge or so?) used pedal cars for track inspection. Yes, they were used on larger lines, but I've never seen anything for track this narrow. The handlebars and seat do not appear to be original. Is this an actual antique piece of equipment? Home shop/backyard project? Old amusement park ride? Also, at small sizes and low speeds, how crucial is wheel profile? The flanges look kinda like pizza cutters.

I'm looking at setting up a little straight back and forth run of modular track panels so the kids can go for a quick spin.

.

Historical? Looks like a Huffy to me!

I see a 1960s Schwinn "Stingray" bicycle banana seat and high rise handle bars. Likely a home-built contraption. Any clue as to its origin/ownership/designer?

Wesley

Super rare indeed, as in one of zero ever built?

As the others have mentioned, that looks like the bikes me and all my 6th grade pals were riding back in the sixties. Stingrays were my generations "Air Jordans", you were a cool kid you had one! Wish I still had mine. I'm having a hard time believe any inspection vehicle ever came with a banana seat. Maybe for $100 more, you can get the optional Sissy Bar?

Also, it says "check the tracks in coal mines". Depending on the mine, you could also be checking for low timbers with your head, as many of them had pretty low clearance. Then again, if it used mules or horses as motive power, you'd be fine.

I don't know, maybe some parts were added during "restoration" some time in the past? But it sure looks fishy, and I'd want to see documentation, and chances are pretty good none exists, even if it's somehow real. Possibly an old photo or something, but good luck...

Until that point, I wouldn't offer $90, let alone $900.

I put my vote as this being home shop or backyard project; it doesn't look like anything from a commercial builder. Looks to be fairly new construction--welded, a lost of square tubing for structural members, with embossed safety material for the rear platform and expanded mesh material for the bottom of the "box." Seat and handlebars may not be original, assuming this thing is "vintage" at all. It also looks to be rather heavily constructed; it would not be easy to pump up any sort of grade!

The wheels not only seem to have "pizza cutter" flanges, but flat treads, too. No conical treads or flange filets here!

I would like to know what this machine has for bearings and brakes!

Judging by the flanges, I'd say this is N scale from the early 1970's. likely available in PRR and Santa Fe. ;-)

I'm sorry, but have to do it, robertjohndavis gets the "win" on this one, in my book! Still chuckling!

Kent

Yeah, robertjohndavis definitely takes the gold. I kinda figured this was a a homebuilt contraption, I just wanted to get a couple other opinions on it before I went any further. Might still be a fun toy if the brakes and bearings are good (assuming they exist), but it's not 900 clams fun.

Thanks all. :)

Bearings, we don't need no stinking bearings...

Look at the closeup of the wheels, there looks to be no room for bearings, also there is a grease fitting, so unless it was stored near the machine shop where they had an oil injector gun, I would say you would be lucky to find a bronze bushing.

Rich C.

My back-of-the-envelope guesstimate is that, if you REALLY need to pedal your way through a low-ceiling mine, you could cobble together a much more efficient, effective device that seats the rider in a recumbent position for about $300, using an old bicycle frame and a spare track cart. If you have enough room to ride upright, I could probably get someone to merge a spare adult bike (not this kiddie thing used on this..... THING.... being offered for sale) and parts for perhaps $200, including welding and rail wheels, assuming you find the bike frame as a giveaway and have the basic rail cart handy.

I'm picturing someone riding this "thing" in the ad and knocking the teeth from their lower jaw with their knees as they try to pedal.......

Some comparable machines from Germany:

Hi,

Y'all have good points. The first item I noticed are the ALUMINUM wheels. That looks a lot like some I used in 7.5" gauge.

I'd thought about taking an adult tricycle (used at the ex-Western Electric plant nearby), adding a 1 HP 12V electric motor and using it to go to the grocery store using sidewalks (not street legal). I was rebuilding my model 4-wheel porter (1.5" scale) at the time and would have used the same electronics. Just never got around to it. The cost was about $350 for the conversion (including the purchase of the cycle from the auctioneer).

Doug vV

The seller also has 10 feet of track, but that was how he answered my question about the track gauge.