Digitized 1963 Strombecker Handbook

[LAMing]

I discovered that there were notable differences between the '63 Handbook and the '64 Handbook, so thought I'd go ahead and digitize the '63 book and share it here at HRW as well.

As with the '64 book, this will be uploaded in segments. Here we go!






















And here's what I feel is absolutely, most positively, the most awesome action shot of all time!! 55+ years later, I still had vivid memories of seeing this picture "somewhere" way back as a lad in the early-mid 60s. I have always thought I saw this pic in some model car/slot mag I had way back when, so I figured I really wouldn't have much hope of EVER finding it again so I could save it to my Strombecker memoirs folder. Imagine my surprise to be browsing the '63 Handbook that came with Set #2 I have purchased to see this pic therein! Now how cool is that?? So THAT is where I saw this pic! It was this handbook that came with my first Strombecker set I received for Christmas 1963!







To be continued...

[LAMing]

Part 2...

























To be continued...

[LAMing]

Final installment...



























And that concludes the 1963 Handbook! Hope some of you got some memories recharged, or maybe even some motivation for a project!

Sharing such as this is about the only way I have of giving back to the community that is so helpful with info, advice, help, and even product at times!

All fer now!

Andre

[TuscoTodd]

VERY cool!
Thank you for sharing!!!

[RvE]

Those old Strombecker cars look very good for early 60s. The buildings and accessories were great too - as per the nice track layout on page 26.

This goes to Dave Kennedy's point that today's slot car manufacturers don't provide that "vision" of how home racers can create their own scale racing layout using manufacturer supplied accessories. Clearly, that detailed scale home track was part of the 60s era slot car sales philosophy. Today, the slot car catalogs/web pages display a slot car set as an empty track with 2 cars in the image!

thanks for sharing, RvE.

[LAMing]

You're welcome TuscoTodd!


RvE:

Boy, how right that observation is! Like your example depicted in this handbook on page 26, displaying the sets with scenic accessories really stirred my young (at the time) imagination. My original Montgomery Ward Strombecker set I received for Chirstmas '63 supplied with my some assorted scenic accessories, and I often would build "scenes" to go along with my play racing.

Here's a re-post of the Montgomery Ward's catalog page that shows the set I received that year (set "A"):




I had SO much fun with that set!

Along this same line, I've come to really enjoy viewing pictures of European's (or any) slot enthusiasts that show their vintage Scalextric tracks with scenery. I really like the vibe some of them produce. Their scenes are very reminiscent of racing in the 50s! Love it.


Andre

[jaws]

Well this is where I started with my slot car racing. My brother and I received a Strombecker set for Christmas. It had the #9080 Button Control Throttle, doorbell button, with our set. We didn't do much else doing the Christmas break other than run our D-Jag and Ferrari Testa Rosa around the figure 8 track. By the time school started back we had worn the tread off of the tires. A couple of years later I received another Strombecker set. In this set it had the #9625 Ferrari Berlinetta in it. My set had the Rheostat Control Throttle in it. Man was I happy to have this advanced throttle control now, since we had worn out the button controllers. Mine even had the added feature of a brake built in, a red button that would interrupt power when pushed. I enjoyed this for a long time. I had made some changes to the Berlinetta to "improve" it's performance. I added the #8070 Bevel gear set. So, when a 8 lane Commercial track opened, I made the 7 mile trip on my bike to show my modified car!!! Boy, was everyone surprised to see my car!!! I don't remember bringing that car back again??? My brother and I went to the local hobby store 6 miles away and bought ourselves a couple of 1/24th cars we could run on the track. We raced on the track until it closed in 1970.

Still have my Original Strombecker D-Jag, front motored car. It sets centered in my display case with 31 other 1/32 Vintage slot cars. I am in a Vintage slot car club that we race the cars monthly at the hobby store and the members home tracks. I have two in my basement. A 80 foot, 3 lane, routed track and a 82 foot Carrera track.

Jim W

[LAMing]

Thanks Jim for sharing your memories!

I'm so glad this thread triggered them and gave you the impetus to share!

Andre

[LAMing]

Hey... it just dawned on me that the inside covers of the Handbook was comprised of the same photo! SO... I loaded both into my photo software and stitched them together. Thought I'd share the finished product with all of you! I love the 1950s/early 1960s racing scene!


Enjoy!

Andre