Ohlsson & Rice .75

DrCox Tue Oct 22, 2019 2:32 pm

Not quite model engine size but small just the same. Did any of you read this Pop Mec article from Jan 1970 back in the day?

Didn't have the engine, but at a MECA meeting approximately 30+ years ago, found a NOS one with auxiliary tank for sale with the thought of maybe someday....

Eventually someday did arrive and now she sits upon the garage shelf for others to enjoy.

Ohlsson & Rice .75 Uh029en

modelbuilder49 Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:11 pm

Now that is just dadgum kool! I'd never seen one like this before. I have one of those engines that I bought N.I.B. back in the early 70's when I was an active r/c boat racer and had given thought to building one of the, then proposed, classes of Deep Vees using gas engines but never did because of my commitments on active duty where time was at a premium! Did you keep the full article? Would you be willing to share a copy? Did you build this neat little bike? Were any of the components available "off-the-shelf"? What was your sourcing for the various components? May I ask how much did you invest? Sir, I would be very interested in knowing more about the details of construction, pitfalls, options and modifications, if any. We can communicate off-line if you would prefer, just drop me a pm. I look forward to hearing from you.

Jim Carter
Titusville, FL.

DrCox Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:28 pm

Jim, I read the article back in Jan of 1970 while in my High School library. Both my friend and I drooled over that Tom Thumb Mini Bike for the longest time, but alas...no money for the engine. Therefore it was not built, yet also not forgotten.

The plans are straight forward and the wheels, gears, clutch etc are all available off the internet.

Here is a forum in which the individual does a nice job of documenting the build along with the plans. It's a good read.

Any questions in which I can help, then please ask away.

https://www.planetminis.com/threads/1970-tom-thumb-minibike-build.195327/

NEW222 Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:15 am

Now is that ever cool! Great job on it. Would be funny to take it to a school and see if it truly fits in a locker as advertised..... Did you ever take it for a 'test drive'?

aspeed Wed Oct 23, 2019 12:45 pm

Sweet little toy. Looks like the early model of the microbikes that were popular recently. The motor looks a bit like an O&R bicycle conversion that I have somewhere. I think it has a gearbox and a knurled drive wheel IIRC. Fox made a similar unit for a while until lawyers put a stop to it, making them fairly rare now.

modelbuilder49 Wed Oct 23, 2019 2:14 pm

DrCox wrote:Jim, I read the article back in Jan of 1970 while in my High School library. Both my friend and I drooled over that Tom Thumb Mini Bike for the longest time, but alas...no money for the engine. Therefore it was not built, yet also not forgotten.

The plans are straight forward and the wheels, gears, clutch etc are all available off the internet.

Here is a forum in which the individual does a nice job of documenting the build along with the plans. It's a good read.

Any questions in which I can help, then please ask away.

https://www.planetminis.com/threads/1970-tom-thumb-minibike-build.195327/

Thank you so much for the response and the link. I really appreciate it. Smile