Compare Four Vintage Chassis
by Jim Allen, Oct. 25, 2002
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Here are images of four related chassis.
I believe all four are based on a chassis from the manufacturer International.
The first chassis, 'a' on the left, I can definitely identify
as a 1220-A International 16D Strip Chassis, as seen on page 166 of
the Auto World catalog, 1969. It matches the picture exactly,
even the 'inchworm' drop arm stop.
- The AW ad lists rigid and hinged 'floppy' body mounts; this has the rigid body mounts.
- The AW ad lists 16D and 26D motor brackets; this is the 16D.
- The AW ad states that the chassis is now sold with a solid 1/8"
front axle instead of the curved 1/16" drop center front axle;
this is the 1/16" axle.
I don't know what other chassis International made, as distinguished from those
modified by their owners. Let's keep on the lookout for other examples.
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a | b | c | d |
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Now let's compare these chassis closely:
1. All four chassis have the same 3 rail construction of the center section.
2. All four chassis have the same inline motor bracket.
3. All four chassis have the same front axle,
- an unusual, curved 1/16" drop center front axle,
- mounted the same unusual way, with a small washer integrally soldered
into the joint, laying tilted 45 degrees against the axle
- all 4 chassis are broken at this same point, so the axle rotates!
- NEW! See detailed pictures of this joint
here!
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a | b | c | d |
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4. All four chassis have the same connection
from the drop arm to the main rails, with
a little stovepipe hat on each end of the crossbar!
5. All four chassis show rough grinding of the main rails, on bottom,
under front axle connection.
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c | d |
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6. a and b have the same pin tube body mounts.
7. b, c and d have same drop arm and same guide flag holder (which, in turn,
looks like a Dynamic scratchbuilder's part).
8. b and c are plated with something shiny,
while a and d are brass wire with a nicely aged patina.
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c | d |
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9. Speculation: b and c - chop chop!
Notice that the outer rails, by the body mounts, are shiny 3-wire assemblies,
that look exactly like the inner frame rails. I wonder if someone (maybe at International?)
chopped up another International chassis and mounted the rails on the outside of these 2 chassis?
Notice b and c have different ways to make this same connection
(pin tubes vs. L-brackets). Maybe inspired by a magazine article?
10. Final questions: Were all four chassis made by International? Surely.
Were b, c and d modified by their owners? Surely.
But which differences in the four are due to International,
and which differences are due to their owners? That's the hard question!
Feel free to e-mail me
or post on the Message Board. Thanks! Jim Allen
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