We still have one prize up for grabs!!! Two have been claimed by savvy contestants already, one on the first try. It's such an obscure item that it's been forced to the dustbin of antique shops, yet if included in any 1950's to 1970's era Z-scale layout, it will add an interesting degree of legitimacy to anyone familiar with this item. To speed things up, here are several incorrect guesses: Phone or phone booth --- NOPE Kiddie ride ---------------- NOPE Pinball machine ---------- NOPE Gumball machines ------- NOPE, and primarily because it dispenses a tangible item Although our mystery item would sometimes be placed within striking distance of these items listed above, but were also placed by themselves in order to elicit the money of a passerby who just couldn't resist...... Weigh in with your guesses as soon as you can --- the final prize is boxed up and ready to ship!
DING - DING - DING ---- WE HAVE OUR THIRD WINNER !!!! Thank goodness too, as several contenstants were losing alot of sleep over this......jeez! The mystery product is --- wait for it, wait for it, wait for it... A COIN OPERATED SCALE --- or as Bruce Block correctly called it from a bygone era, "WEIGH YOURSELF FOR A PENNY" Although COMMODORE noted in his guess, not Z-"scale" but a coin operated scale. The lucky winners are: BRUCE BLOCK COMMODORE - Rory VERN Special mention winner due to his tenacity of guessing literally every thing know to mankind that requires a coin, but who eventually got it right but seconds behind VERN..... MATT So here is a real unit that I modelled by 3D prints after. And here are the 3D prints, with the scale being approximately 3.5-4mm tall. There were many great guesses, specifically a phone booth and kiddie rides, although I think kiddie rides have been made, and the phone booths are around, but I will be attempting to print versions of both at sometime in the future. Thanks to all that participated!!! It's very interesting to see how relics like this scale have gone by the wayside, but bring back so many fond memories for us that remember them.
VERN, I did get your guess posted on my "profile", and your guess was valid --- so you slipped in under the wire as winner #3. Although Matt was closing in fast behind, but was about 5-7 mins too slow. I sent you an IM --- you should see the red ball at the top of this page --- just click on it.
Adding to the the discussion, but I ran across this photo recently, showing a scale in it's historic setting at some cafe' somewhere. Although, now seeing the phone booth in the pic, a well done version of such an item is a must, now that I think about it. So many ideas, so little time.....
Ahhh glad you like the items. I’m actually learning more and more every day regarding the process for printing. There are so many variables. What excites me about the entire 3-D realm is that we can finally have the fine details that we need to make Z-scale legitimate in the eyes of those running the bigger scales.
Thanks Cory. Although I would say it’s not just my singular efforts in 3-D that is leveling the playing field with the other scales, but rather many others, including individuals on this forum who are also assisting in that “leveling”. Call it a team effort if you will. My personal passion is realism in Z-scale, or at least to encourage everyone to achieve the maximum level possible in 1:220 scale. I’m just excited to be able to do that using my 3-D printing abilities.
My grandkids will enjoy telling me where to put all these wonders on my layout. I'm disappointed that you didn't include the coins for the scales. Love what you are doing. Now I have to trade my surgical loupes for a dissecting microscope.
