Editing Scalextric (section)

== History ==
[[File:Scalextric-Tin-Cars-restored.png|thumb|Early Scalextric cars, {{circa|1957}}, Maserati 250F (left) and Ferrari 375 Grand Prix (right)]]

The forerunner to Scalextric was ''Scalex'', which Francis first produced through the company Minimodels Ltd which he had founded in 1947. The company was based in London and made tinplate toys and models. Early products included the Startex toy car range and the very popular Scalex, which was introduced in 1952. Scalex was a range of toy racing cars with [[clockwork]] motors which were activated by pulling out the steering wheel.

The first model in the Scalex line was the [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]] XK120. These [[1:32 scale]] models had some unique features, including a clockwork motor which was not wound by a key but by a 'fifth wheel' device. This wheel is found under the chassis behind the front axle, and works by pressing the car down on a hard surface and being pulled backwards. This wound the clockwork motor and when the car was released it shot forward at speed. The Scalex range expanded to include six cars: the [[MG Cars|MG]] TF, [[Austin-Healey 100]], [[Aston Martin]] DB2, [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]] 2.4 Saloon, [[Maserati]] 250F and [[Ferrari]] 375. The last two were in a slightly different 1:28 scale. Later cars also featured a steerable front axle which could be set at an angle and the cars would then run in an arc.<ref>{{cite book |title=Scalextric The History of the World's Favourite Model Racing Cars |first=Rod |last=Green |publisher=HarperCollins |location=UK |year=2001 |isbn=978-0007134212}}</ref>

In 1952, Minimodels moved to a larger factory in New Lane, [[Havant]] to meet the growing demand for the toy cars. At the peak of its popularity, over 7,000 Scalex models were being produced weekly. By 1956, the novelty of clockwork racing cars had worn off and sales began to fall. Eventually the future of the company and its one hundred employees was threatened.

In an attempt to revive his company's flagging fortunes, Fred Francis began to look at alternatives. He was inspired by seeing model car racing tracks, but wanted to develop the player's control of the car so as to increase the sense of competition. He experimented by putting small electric motors into Scalex cars and running them on model railway track. Next he introduced rubber slotted track and gave the cars a 'gimbal' wheel to pick up the electric current in the groove of the track. Original tin-plate cars had one hard plastic rear wheel and one rubber-tyred wheel, which gave different handling characteristics for left and right corners. Power was supplied by batteries hidden in a little cardboard hut, with players having their own on-off button to control their cars.

"Scalex - electric", became "Scalextric", and was unveiled at the Harrogate Toy Fair in January 1957 to immediate acclaim.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-17 |title=The History of Scalextric |url=https://uk.scalextric.com/about-scalextric |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Scalextric UK}}</ref> It appealed to both adults and children as it combined speed, competition and the glamour of [[Formula One]] motor racing. Demand for the toy was immense and the Minimodels factory struggled to keep up with the orders.

In 1958, Fred Francis sold the Minimodels company to [[Lines Bros|Lines Brothers]] (who operated as "Tri-ang"). The popularity of Scalextric continued. In 1960, plastic bodies replaced the original tinplate, and in 1961, production moved to a new factory in the Leigh Park area of Havant. By 1964, Scalextric was being advertised as 'the most complete model motor racing system in the world'.

Production of Scalextric was transferred to [[Rovex]] in 1968 (although the Minimodels factory remained open until the early 1970s). {{As of|2023}}, it is owned by [[Hornby Hobbies]] of England.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.hants.gov.uk/childhood-collections/toys/scalextric.htm |title=Scalextric Made in Hampshire |website=Hampshire Cultural Trust |access-date=24 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427185408/http://www3.hants.gov.uk/childhood-collections/toys/scalextric.htm |archive-date=27 April 2015 }}</ref>