The Toddler's T..Car with a difference
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 9:25 amHi all, I would like to share with you...If I may 
Back in the very early 1970's, I designed and built a battery powered car for my then two toddler sons.
Well, time marches on, and in 2003 I built another one..this time for my lovely granddaughter, Caitlin, posted here:
1. Caitlin at Old Warden September 2003
2. At first I tried "Silver trim", but in the end changed it to brass..much more authentic, as the photo above..
3. Work in progress, no canopy yet...
4. All plywood construction...
5. For the stearing mechanism, I used the bottom "gearbox" off a scrap bushwacker (Strimmer). Perfect angle...
6. Competed the woodwork...now comes the prep for spray painting..
7. For the motor I bought a used mobility scooter..I geared it such that the car would run at a steady walking pace..
A few more points of possible interest, maybe..
1. The car has full front suspension, so uneven ground is not a problem.
2. It has built-in front wheel castor, so there is no stearing "hunting".
3. The wheels turn with about two degrees of camber, when you turn.(In other words, the axle is mounted at a rearward tilt/angle)
4. The accelerator peddle is simply a switch..go or brake. (Release the peddle and the car stops within 1/8th of a wheel turn.)
5. Gearing is such that the car can only go at walking pace. (Is after all a toddler at the stearing!
)
6. The front axle is hand shaped, and is "Cherry" wood, for strength.
7. The front suspension blades are two spring steel strips..one side is mounted solidly to the axle, the other side pivots.
This keeps the axle center to the car with no collapse.
Anyway, please feel free to ask if you would like to know more about..The Toddler's T ..more photo uploads?
Finally, can you tell what is mounted on the radiator cap?
Thanks for looking..
Jan
Back in the very early 1970's, I designed and built a battery powered car for my then two toddler sons.
Well, time marches on, and in 2003 I built another one..this time for my lovely granddaughter, Caitlin, posted here:
1. Caitlin at Old Warden September 2003
2. At first I tried "Silver trim", but in the end changed it to brass..much more authentic, as the photo above..
3. Work in progress, no canopy yet...
4. All plywood construction...
5. For the stearing mechanism, I used the bottom "gearbox" off a scrap bushwacker (Strimmer). Perfect angle...
6. Competed the woodwork...now comes the prep for spray painting..
7. For the motor I bought a used mobility scooter..I geared it such that the car would run at a steady walking pace..
A few more points of possible interest, maybe..
1. The car has full front suspension, so uneven ground is not a problem.
2. It has built-in front wheel castor, so there is no stearing "hunting".
3. The wheels turn with about two degrees of camber, when you turn.(In other words, the axle is mounted at a rearward tilt/angle)
4. The accelerator peddle is simply a switch..go or brake. (Release the peddle and the car stops within 1/8th of a wheel turn.)
5. Gearing is such that the car can only go at walking pace. (Is after all a toddler at the stearing!
)6. The front axle is hand shaped, and is "Cherry" wood, for strength.
7. The front suspension blades are two spring steel strips..one side is mounted solidly to the axle, the other side pivots.
This keeps the axle center to the car with no collapse.
Anyway, please feel free to ask if you would like to know more about..The Toddler's T ..more photo uploads?
Finally, can you tell what is mounted on the radiator cap?
Thanks for looking..
Jan
