My old instruction sheets say: PO Box 400, Troy, Michigan My other reference says AMT Corporation Headquarters 1225 E Maple Rd Troy, MI Chris
I seem to remember Troy, Mi. Some of the molds for the AMT (and other) kits were made by a tool shop next store to my cousin's house in Utica Mi, just north of 21 mile road. This was in the early to mid 60's. My cousin worked for the die shop owner, an "older" German immigrant who came to the US after WW2 penneyless. The guy had a small shop in his backyard (they were one acre lots), and also did tooling for the big 3 auto companies (remember them?). I was always envious of my cousin because he had "test shots" of all the latest models..no boxes or instructions, just the models. Alan
SMP was also before AMT in the Plastic Model car Kits.. AMT took that over.. Late 50s to about 1961.. I think I still have a couple of those..
Johan, AMT, Lindberg, Monogram, Hawk, Revell...there quite a few all competing at the same time...and Hubley made the metal ones
Okay, I read this from the newer book on Gene Winfield. It was the Speed and Custom division of AMT that was headed up by Gene Winfield around 1965. Apparently NOT the manufacturing facility for models, but for some of the show cars of the time..... Maxwell Smart's Sunbeam The AMT Piranha The Man (and Girl) from U.N.C.L.E. etc..
I miss the Old Model Kits.. From what Im seeing in stores are just reruns of reruns.. Premier, ITC or the Ideal toy Company.. Palmer ( they were Crude)
The AMT kits were so much better than the others. Revell did make a few nice ones but I don't remember ever finishing one. Still wonder why there was the 1/24 vs 1/25 scale, how did that deal get started?
Never liked Revell models. Their quality ****ed in every way! The AMT, Johan and IMC models were always the best, IMO. Very sharp detail and quality throughout!
Early Monogram kits were pretty neat, too. But it was AMT that gave you the 3-in-1 and even 4-in-1 kits with multiple ways to customize them right out of the box. I used to be big into those -
I still can't beleive how much some of these models bring. I picked up a Stage Ghost (a stage coach made into a hot rod) model at a garage sale still in it's plastic wrap for like $5.00 . I sold it on ebay for $409 US convered to like $600 + Canadian. Yikes!
Wow, I never knew my favorite model company originated 5 miles from my house. Pretty cool. I loved AMT kits too. They were my favorite. The 3 in 1 kits were the best. I always built them in Drag style. Those big fat slicks were way cool. But you always had to trim out the wheel openings! That was sorta a pain in the *** at the time, but actually is realistic to the radius wheel wells of g***ers. Monogram had great kits too, and probably the best quality. They were the 1/24 scale ones from what I remember. I agree about the lack of quality with the Revell kits. Johaann (spell?) had some weird-*** cars. I remember I always wanted the "Haulin' He****" kit, but they discontinued it and I was never able to get it. It was cool because it had an engine in the front and in the back! The "Heavenly He****" was a poor subs***ute. I loved model cars. They started my addiction!!! Mike
1401 East Washington Street Phoenix Arizona 85034 602-258-7861 Don J. Beebe, Division Manager I have a nicely done folder/brochure from there.
A good friend of mine worked at AMT when it was in Baltimore. A machinist that actually worked on the molds. I got a chance to go in on a weekend with him and look around. It was really cool for me. The molds are something else. He showed me some molds from some of my favorite models that were no longer in production at that time. Often a mold would have parts added for the new releases and the gates to the deleted parts were closed off. The small room where the parts were chrome plated was cool...all those trees hanging from the ceiling. Apparently the dumpster was a gold mine for kit bashers. You'd think that they would just be recycled but the huge injection molding machines were loaded with plastic pellets. The best model car co. IMHO.
Absolutely the best model car company. Right models and right options. They got it. The reason they didn't reclaim is the stuff never injects exactly the same once it's been thru the machine. Generally on something with high asthetic requirements or thin walls you want the consistency of brand-new pellets or s**** rates will soar. Can you imagine how terrible it would be to inspect part trees for defects
Thanks BARQNUT!! AMT was a great company, Jo-Han too. MPC in the 70's was alright. Revell was actually pretty cool as far as effort, I think they were just a bit ambitious when it came to crazy detail. Anyone remember trying to get the 70's funny car torsion bar arms to setup properly while that Testor's glue cured, which, of course it never really did. If only the super glue stuff was around back then..... Again, thanks Barqnut, I'm going to check out that address and take a pic or two, tell the hobos to say "CHEEZ"!
Those Firestone slicks were the best, the fact that the Lyndwood rail I'm restoring ran them in real life, is a neat link to what got me started in cars too.
My understanding is that 1/25 was better suited to scaling for the mold makers. Which flowed down from 1:1 car prototype modeling. Also the math is a little easier. Bob
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