Washing-Machine Motor Drives Midget Racing Auto (Aug, 1938)
Filed under: Toys and Games — @ 2:12 am
Source: Popular Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Aug, 1938
| Buy on Ebay
Source: Popular Mechanics ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Aug, 1938
| Buy on Ebay
We’ve seen something like this before but I’m always amazed by the fact that at one point washing-machines had gasoline powered motors. I wonder if you had to pull start them like a lawn mower.
Washing-Machine Motor Drives Midget Racing Auto
Built on racing lines, a midget automobile constructed by Grover Revelle of Fredericktown, Mo., for his younger brother is powered by a one-cylinder washing-machine motor. Its “radiator” is copied after the latest style die-cast grilles. The tiny car will travel fifteen miles an hour on the level, and runs fifty to sixty miles on a gallon of gasoline.
Re: Pull start:
Nope - believe it or not they were (at least with the old Maytags) kick started! There’s a pedal linkage that engaged the output - a kick on this sent it merrily spinning and disengaged it at the bottom of the kick stroke.
This was perfect for those with less upper body strength - you can kick it through by putting your weight on it, with no danger from pull ropes or hand cranks.
Comment by mrchurchill109 — July 16, 2007 @ 5:34 am
That is so cool. Now I want a kick-start washer.
Comment by Charlie — July 16, 2007 @ 9:02 am
Grover Revelle is my Grandfather and he showed this webpage to me just the other day. He was very proud to see the car he built posted on the internet!
He said he built two of these cars - the second had an 8 hp motor on it!
And, for the record, he confirmed that the engine on the one pictured was kick-start. There was a lever off the back of the engine.
Comment by Jeremy — January 9, 2008 @ 6:46 am
Forgot to mention, the grill on the front is off an Oldsmobile - my Grandfather didn’t remember the year.
Comment by Jeremy — January 9, 2008 @ 6:48 am
I was wanting to ask Jeremy and his grandfather, Grover Revelle, some questions about the car he built with the washing machine motor. Please let me know how I can get in touch with you! Thanks.
Comment by Shannon Pope — October 28, 2008 @ 4:08 pm