Mura “B” can motors, success or failure?

A part of the large Mura chapter in the new soon to be published “Electric Dreams” book addresses the success and failures of one of the most controversial slot car motors ever, the infamous B-can motor.

Devised by Ron Mura, Bob Lenz, and with input from John Cukras, the “B” was not what one would call a success (except maybe in the UK where it was widely used in the 1/32 scale racing classes) but today still fascinates the enthusiast.

I am not going to tell you the whole story recorded from the actual actors (that will be for you to read later) but I thought I would post a few of the many variants of this motor, manufactured or at least sold all the way through… 1975, something few really know.

So, in no particular order, here are a few pictures of some of the motors gathered over the years by Scott Bader and Yours Truly and now at the LASCM.

An original late 1968 “B” Production with comm vent, the original 16D brush holders with slot in the lead-wire terminal, and Ceramacoat armature:

Here is a two-hole Group 12 dating from 1970:

Another NCC Group 12 from late 1969 with the rectangular
vent hole:

A 1969 “bubblegum” with the “Ceramacoat” Team Cukras
armature and rectangular hole:

A 1972 production “B” Production with axle clearance,
produced for the UK:

This one was sold by Cobra in 1969 as a Group 15:

Another B with the two-hole pattern, built for the UK market after 1972 as proven by the end bell design. This destroys the urban legend that “B” motors were no longer produced after the introduction of the C-can motor:

Yet another B with ball bearing sold in the UK in early 1969. Note the slot in the lead-wire terminal and compare to the later motors:

One of the most famous and interesting B motors was this Long John kit with new longer magnets and Bob Green-wound arm:

A 1969 B-Production sold by REHco: