1940s Toy Tank Restoration [It Actually Fires!]

Vintage firing gas cannon tank from the 1940s restoration.
Big Bang Motor Tank restoration. Made by Conestoga Toy Co. in the 1940s and 1950s, the "Big Bang Motor Tank" has a working gas cannon. The gun/cannon uses calcium carbide mixed with water to create acetylene gas. When sparked, it explodes with a Big Bang.
This tank is made by the same company, Conestoga Toy Co. that makes the Big Bang Cannon I restored. If you haven't seen that one, the video is here: • Restoration of 60 Year...
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[@AcmeRestorations]

Please feel free to post questions and comments. I'll try to answer all the questions. If you enjoy these videos please subscribe and click the little bell icon so you'll get notified when I post new videos. I have a ton of restorations in the queue! Thanks for watching. I try to post progress photos as often as possible here on instagram if you're interested in following restorations in process. My instagram: instagram.com/acmerestorations/

[@polishmachine8303]

I really enjoy the restoration video of the tank toy, very detailed and thorough, the equipment is complete, greetings are always healthy from Indonesia 🙏

[@alexrestoration7013]

Thanks for the demonstration of the cannon!

[@Yleski]

What kind of metal putty did you use to “spackle” the pitted metal surface?

[@NoName-vq3zo]

Do you sell these things after you restore them? If so, how can we buy them?

[@olstar18]

I've never heard of doing something like that with carbide. Interesting some of the things they used to do with toys before people got this idea that everything had to be made of bubble wrap.

[@Patrick.Weightman]

I like to imagine when he ordered the breech block, an alarm went off at their office and woke up some dude that's been sleeping in a chair for years all covered in cobwebs and dust

[@paddington1670]

"MARTHA! we got an order! it's been 18 years, but gosh dangit i told you business is far from over!" Martha - eye roll

[@CalPil0t]

I bought two cannons at an estate sale a few days ago, and went by their office yesterday to purchase a missing breech block on one of them. Very nice lady helped me. They ship daily and have many parts available, particularly expendables such as their calcium carbide. Amazing displays of their current and older models of cannons, tanks snd airplanes.

[@azynkron]

"Hey.. Bob.. I hear tanks are pretty popular with the kids right now.. Do we have a tank toy?" "Nah, Jeff, we make toy race cars, remember?" "Just stick two turrets on top of one, Bob."

[@kibukun]

I don't know, looks more like it was made by a company that designed boats. I mean, what's with the keel-thing on the front?

[@MongooseTacticool]

"As long as we make it out of heavy metals, lead paint and shoot fire right?"

[@hubertvale5132]

The best holiday gift for your little warrior from Mainway Toys!

[@dr.skipkazarian5556]

This is a very fine restoration; but, your fabrication skills are (for me) the real energy and talent....great job!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you so much 😊

[@aegismule13]

great job and thanks for going the extra and actually firing it :)

[@josue1996jc]

Yeah i would have been so mad if he didn't fire it XD

[@bruceevans3476]

A dude like this was always going to fire it. 👍

[@madmanmechanic8847]

I have been deathly ill since the labor day weekend and your video put a huge smile on my face thank you

[@AcmeRestorations]

Hope you get well!

[@madmanmechanic8847]

@@AcmeRestorations Thank you I just got my meds starting to slowing pull out of it knock on wood thank you again !

[@sotkajarvi]

It's not often I say this about toys...but holy crap that tank is gorgeous!!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Wow, thank you!

[@stevenbest6408]

Okay, I gotta admit THIS is genuinely cool! Great job, and not to mention, getting the thing to fire using the original process -- awesome! Nice work.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Glad you liked it!

[@xMrsmileyfacex]

Love the flames coming out of the main turret gun. Major cool toy! Wish I had one as a kid. All I had was a cannon that popped toy gun caps. It was loud but no flame.

[@ominous-omnipresent-they]

Nothing brings out a child's imagination quite like a toy box filled with potential fire hazards.

[@zurgboy07]

Back then they actually make FUN TOYS

[@TheUniquePlumberman]

I had one of these as a kid, only mine was a cannon. I loved playing with it. I tried finding another one but they are very rare. Nicely done with the resto. 👍

[@AcmeRestorations]

Here is my restoration last year of one of their cannons: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ3ckGeCmK6Kfbs They are still in business and still make them. Canastoga Toy Co.

[@alexanderj.mendez3815]

I had two different size cannons! Had a lot of fun with them. Would only bring them out on the 4th and New Years

[@RepairRenewRestore]

Loved every minute of that. Well done

[@darthmuadib7237]

Mad respect for the new brass inserts for the wheels. Those look great.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks!

[@kevingander]

Well done, brilliant stuff! 👏👏👏

[@dianestephenson7639]

That looks like it would be a fun toy to have,,,very nice job on the restoration 😊

[@LordKane773]

I just found out the company still exists and makes these, beautiful restoration too!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you.

[@LordKane773]

@@AcmeRestorations You are welcome sir.

[@gregwright392]

What's the name of the company?

[@LordKane773]

@@gregwright392 Conestoga Toy Co. www.bigbangcannons.com/

[@andrewvitale7128]

Great job on the restoration and fireing of this toy! Shows you the toys lasted so much longer..please keep them coming.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks! Will do!

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Absolutely fantastic Restoration !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@valmonta3647]

Great to see it back in the game :)

[@cavinrauch]

What a cool toy !

[@TheFabrik]

Wow amazing 🌟!! Beautiful toy and perfect job 🙌

[@dalecarr5445]

Excellent restoration!

[@duaneho555]

Heck of a nice job 👍🏻.

[@fernandoesparza1543]

OMG, impresionant! Beautiful toy. Congratulations. Regards from México.

[@nosaltiesandrooshere7488]

👍 Danke fürs Hochladen! 👍 Thanks for uploading! 👍 Very good and beautiful, thank you! 👍 Sehr gut und schön, danke!

[@rajiv4972]

Awesome!

[@Maples01]

That is amazing, man the toys from the time of my parents, I played with my mom and uncles Michigan crane, dad still has it.

[@briansdiecastthailandstoth6747]

Great work mate

[@mountainviewturning5319]

Restoration looks great 👍

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks 👍

[@Gunny1971]

That is cool. Well done man.

[@reubenrodriguez6219]

Wow great job guy. Amazing test.👍👍

[@scottyd8900]

You never cease to amaze .... Your attention to detail and abilities are incredible 🤘😀

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you very much!

[@telescopereplicator]

This restoration is 'bang-on' !! ;-)

[@deettekearns9092]

So cool!!!

[@NewbFixer]

Amazing Stuff!

[@MillwalltheCat]

Excellent restoration, looks like it's just come out of the box on Xmas Day.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks. I was really pleased with how well it turned out.

[@garymucher9590]

I actually own a Big Bang Cannon. But I have never seen a model like that one. Nice refurbishing. Thumbs Up. Oh, and they are extremely loud as well.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Yes, these were only made for a a while back in the late 40s and the 50s. Although they do make an anniversary edition now that is made from bronze. VERY loud. The video doesn't really do it justice. Thanks for watching.

[@thiggy1249]

I had a two wheel cannon of this type, which used Bangsite carbide granules. I believe that your breach block (sparking mechanism) is identical to the one on my cannon. Great restoration. I'll have to look about in my mothers attic next cool day I am at her house. I think it is still there.

[@AcmeRestorations]

I did a restoration of a Big Bang cannon last summer. Made the breech block from scratch, before I knew they still sold them. Thanks for watching.

[@thenoseknows9391]

Beautiful job 💯💯💯👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@oscarjonathanmanriquez9712]

Excellent!!!I love your videos!!!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you very much!

[@carlosescobar6973]

AWESOME!!

[@anands6127]

Nice restoration

[@spqrtejano8026]

12:28 that paintbrush was awesome!!

[@Meeckle]

That is super cool

[@lindastowars7346]

VERY NICE !

[@lonewolfwildernesssurvival9443]

Your videos are amazing , true craftsmanship

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you very much!

[@rananemri9863]

I really have been enjoying watching your videos! Honestly quite calming but most of all I am just so amazed at how good you are at what you do!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you so much!

[@kelvincolemanAnimal]

Awesome job you did fantastic 👍👍👍

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you 🤗

[@matui6983]

Nice to see a Logan lathe being used. Ive got two and they have been faultless for the last 30 years.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks. I restored mine, but that was before I was doing videos. I'm the second owner of this one. Very light use by the previous owner. I think it was in storage for about the last 40 years. Got it for $300. One of my prized possessions. Thanks for watching!

[@thenoseknows9391]

@@AcmeRestorations love resto channels, Awesome Restorations,Odd Tinkering,Chip Channel, subbed to yours after 2 minutes 💯💯😀🤣✌🏼👍🏼💙💙 great job buddy 💙💙💙👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼💯💯💯 keep em comin💯💯✌🏼✌🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@tron3entertainment]

Back when toys were not only dangerous, but could light dad's cigar.

[@kevinwilliams8662]

Enjoyed the show

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks!

[@rabk5702]

Lovely restoration :-)

[@AcmeRestorations]

Many thanks!

[@joshuacampbell9990]

I’m most certainly going to say I appreciate the whole fact you actually painted it over powder coating. These toys were never powder coated and it drives me bananas when I see others doing it. Personally I’m not a fan of how this genre has more or less went to powder coating everything. Beautiful restoration!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you. I agree as well. I don't want to powder coat things that don't call for it. Also I never powder coat ductile metals.

[@silvergryphon21]

Wow, a toy with real fire and chemicals, i want one

[@oneshotme]

Looks great and I really like it!! Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Bill-tz3wg]

Nice restoration. Cool toy. Liked and subscribed.

[@StarScapesOG]

Very fitting for your channel name! Very nicely done!

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you very much!

[@Cradley684]

Some camouflage would have been good, but you have still done a great job friend, Stay Safe !!!.

[@xxlaugherteexx]

I was thinking OD green, but i also respect that he tried to match original color. Makes it more of a restoration and less of a customization.

[@shellbullet37]

i love the thumbnail loop for this vid where its just endlessly pouring stuff into this thing xD

[@AcmeRestorations]

I wish KZbin let me control that. Those are created by the KZbin servers. Sometimes they are cool (usually they aren't). Thanks for watching.

[@Dominic_Kim-]

These where the toys we wish we have today, back than you get toy tank that actually shoots, now it CocAMellOn

[@dannyhenson3141]

Very nice restoration 😊

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you very much!

[@victorchileno1356]

A canales como estos hay que apoyar suscribiendose, buen trabajo

[@pochosousa4653]

Hermoso juguete y muy buena restauración ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[@RestorationAustralia]

Very cool toy well done.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you 🤗

[@tonywright8294]

Excellent

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks

[@Tim-57]

Very cool "toy" and great outcome.🙂

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thank you 🤗

[@Tim-57]

@@AcmeRestorations Welcome🙂

[@trentyoung1135]

Cool toy

[@jaxhayes4372]

1940’s were a hell of a time where anything went apparently

[@geoh1896]

In the 50's some company put out a Nuclear Laboratory Set with real Radio Active material in it.

[@DaleDix]

@@geoh1896 you could get a toy ring that glowed in your cereal if you were lucky

[@geoh1896]

@@DaleDix Yeah I remember we had an old watch in the junk drawer for years that glowed in the dark.

[@markberry3496]

@@geoh1896 That was Gilbert. Gawd, I wish I'd had one!

[@tremaynechetty8900]

Haha.... we used to find actual coin money in our lays potato chips at one point

[@marcelozabala1086]

Muy buen trabajo,....!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🇦🇷🙋🏻‍♂️

[@everett7812]

That’s a bad ass toy

[@paulscottpadgett1996]

Very much Respect

[@nyscersul42]

I suppose the simple fact the drill press can go through those rubber wheels shows how old the tank is... try that with fresh rubber and there would have been smoke and an unhapy drill press hehehehe (great vid)

[@TheGorillafoot]

Now that's a toy I want

[@-Deena.]

Great work as always! What a terrifying 'toy'. 🧡

[@AcmeRestorations]

LOL. These are actually very safe. You can't set the ammo on fire. If you hit the ammo with a rock or hammer, nothing happens. If you add too much calcium carbide, it doesn't work as well. So kids had to really learn to dial in the right amount. Unlike caps and cap guns. Thanks for watching.

[@-Deena.]

@@AcmeRestorations I still wouldn't want to have it facing the wrong way round! ❤

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

I guess you were never a small boy. If you were you'd understand that this is *exciting* and teaches kids to think about what they're doing. (Maybe after taking their eyebrows off a couple of times !) 😁

[@-Deena.]

@@Kevin-mx1vi No i was never a small boy! Haha...but I can just imagine my brother pointing it me or a dog walking past! Not now... i mean when he was about 8 and i was 5 :) Yep, he'd have maximised its terror capabilities . That's small boys for you! Don't trust then with fire breathing tanks is my advice! ❤

[@AcmeRestorations]

@@-Deena. The flame video is kind of click-bait-ish ( I did that for effect). If you actually do it right, you get no flame but a larger bang. The trick is to get the mix of acetylene and oxygen right. These are actually pretty safe for kids. The calcium carbide is not flammable. It won't explode by itself. And, if you add a LOT more, it works worse than if you add just a little. Safer than caps guns for sure.

[@MrGeroth]

That’s neat.

[@AcmeRestorations]

???

[@dixonqwerty]

Hahaha very cool!

[@kanati]

Love it. Only thing I'd have done differently is tap the body and turret and use grub screws instead of rivets to make taking it off and cleaning inside easier. But rivets obviously are more authentic. :)

[@AcmeRestorations]

Doesn't need to be taken apart. When used properly, you just rinse it with vinegar once in a while after use. Keeps it nice and clean.

[@timothydelaval1089]

Wow and you got that smooth of a finish using ground high speed steel lathe cutters? Thats impressive with a armstong tool holder, ill have to practice more on my 1974 sears lathe to get a finish that good.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Sharp tool, slow feed, right speed. Thanks for watching.

[@Bill-tz3wg]

Now this hearkens back to a time when toys were toys. American made. Real steel. Able to shoot white hot flames out the gun barrel. Kids today are missing out. 😢

[@andrzejporeda7281]

Świetna jest ta zrobiona robota pozdrawiam twórcę tego filmiku mile i serdecznie 👍👍👍👍

[@ilfarmboy]

nice

[@carrestore]

good job bro 😍❤❤🔥😍👍

[@AcmeRestorations]

Thanks 🔥

[@michaelscottalloway8915]

cool

[@wlogan0204]

if only toys like this were still a thing

[@AcmeRestorations]

They still sell several models of the cannons. Google Conestoga Toys.

[@ratlord5282]

It's cool

[@manoman0]

Me: Watching the video and checking if I'm subscribed ACME Restorations: YES Me: hardly audible *sigh of relief*

[@nilekelvin9641]

Ultimate lawnmower

[@repairrestore3293]

So I started doing this recently… have any tips on restoring things to make my channel better and my restorations better

[@jerryking7502]

Can you imagine them making something like that for kids today?

[@Restorology]

Excellent work! What camera and lens do you use for close-up shots? Cheers!

[@AcmeRestorations]

This entire video was shot with my Android phone. Thanks for watching.

[@Restorology]

Thanks! I have one as well. Will try it with my next project.

[@RRabbit-pb1cm]

Can you post a link to the rivet assortment? Been looking for some with the spiral to hold a nameplate

[@AcmeRestorations]

Amazon. Search for "knurled shank rivets". Thanks for watching.

[@edtoomuchfun957]

AWESOME JOB! One question for you - if you were going to improve on the design, what would you change?

[@AcmeRestorations]

I'd make it look like a tank! :)

[@theezeelife292]

Where did you get that breach block and calcium carbide? I have an idea for a similar device I'd like to make.

[@AcmeRestorations]

Conestoga Toy Co. still sells parts for their older models. It was about $15. You can get the Bangsite calcium carbide on Amazon or from them. If you watch my Big Bang Cannon video you can see me fabricate a breech block from brass. Thanks for watching.

[@matthewrinehart2367]

Really enjoyed your machinist skills but slightly disappointed that you didn't use a cast steel blank for the rear turret. That being said, a beautiful job. I love seeing broken things made usable!

[@AcmeRestorations]

I did some research and I am pretty sure the original rear turrets on these were made from the same material as the large turret: some sort of white metal/zamac/aluminum alloy. So that's what I went with. Thanks for watching.

[@raywood8187]

Once more into the breach!

[@madcapmagician6018]

nice job😁👍, wondering why u used xylene instead of acetone to thin your paint, any difference between the two?

[@AcmeRestorations]

Xylene doesn't dry as fast as acetone so you get a nicer finish when painting with enamel.

[@madcapmagician6018]

@@AcmeRestorations ok THANX for the info 😁👍

[@jojoanajehad8469]

الله يسعدك اخي الفاضل

[@ohgary]

I think the “rear turret” was actually a compartment to hold a supply of Bangsite, powdered calcium carbide ammo and should have a wooden plug for a closure.

[@ohgary]

Actually I looked it up. It was a Bangsite compartment but the cap made by the restorer was correct. My bad.

[@DD-DD-DD]

Back when toys were REAL toys that could take yer eye out, none of this Tonka drek

[@1973Washu]

Even Tonka too extreme for today's society.

[@AcmeRestorations]

They still make the cannons. They are actually very safe. Safer than a cap gun.

[@DD-DD-DD]

If you don't think that some bright spark thought to stick a marble down that barrel and triple the charge

[@dixonqwerty]

hahaha true. I remember playing with all kinds of stuff that are banned now lol. I'm still here though! Wonderful times.

[@nathanbinns6345]

When I was a kid (80s & early 90s) my Tonka trucks were made out of metal. My friends kids today have Tonka trucks except they are all cheap plastic. I wonder if this is just a cost-saiving thing or if even having metal toys was 'too dangerous' for children. I am guessing probably a mixture of both.

[@tremaynechetty8900]

That was great 👍, would it be possible to insert a projectile into the barrel ? Just curious 🤔

[@AcmeRestorations]

Yes, but it has to be very light for it to shoot out. There is a lot of noise, but not much thrust.