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Carlson Mite (early model)
Designed and built by John Carlson, Chicago, IL
John Carlson of Chicago, IL was a respected gas powered miniature race car builder and competitor. Perhaps best known for his collaborative effort with Milton "Red " Davis which produced the Davis-Carlson tether cars, John Carlson also built a handful of cars prior to that endeavor.
In addition to building and racing gas powered miniature race cars, John Carlson was an active supporter of the hobby. He belonged to Chicago's South Shore Model Club and helped build the club's 1/80th mile portable tether car track which could be transported and set up at different venues in the greater-Chicago area.
He also served as president of the Chicago Mite Car Club where he was instrumental in erecting the 1/48th mile, 4-rail mite car track inside the Calumet Park pavilion in Chicago.
The car shown in the photos is believed to be the first mite car which John Carlson designed and built. The car was Carlson's personal car which he raced for one season and then sold to another competitor in the Chicago area after he designed and built a car with an updated design.
This "first design" Carlson pan has a flat bottom, straight sides, and
bolt-on bridle brackets.
Like all of Carlson's personal .19-size cars, the car is powered by a Hornet .199 model engine. The fuel tank is a signature Carlson design with a brass tube running through the center of the tank to direct airflow into the venturi of the Hornet engine and has a a rather unique
spring-loaded plunger-style fuel shut-off mounted on the side. Hornet Mite wheels and tires are mounted on all four corners.
The body is hand-carved balsa wood which was then covered with tightly stretched silk fabric and coated with several layers of "Dope". The result was a smooth, hard and durable finish.
