At any given time, a few of the 16 full-time designer elves can be found in the prototype shop. Most of them, like Schlegel, have industrial design and radio flyer wagon mechanical engineering backgrounds. Markerrag January 3, 2015 These are getting harder to find, but you can look around a bit and still purchase them.
His business grew until the Liberty Coaster Company, named in honour of the Statue of Liberty, was formed in 1923. The demands for these original wooden wagons, dubbed the “Liberty Coaster,” quickly outpaced production. Incorporating the mass manufacturing techniques of the auto industry, Pasin began making metal wagons out of stamped steel in 1927. At around that time, the red wagons sold for slightly less than $3, or about $40 in 2016 dollars. This wagon is a combination of nostalgia, function, and some good old-fashioned fun. Whether it’s pulling your little ones around the neighborhood, or needing something to hull all of their toys, this toy wagon has enough room to meet all of your needs.
Radio Flyer has more than 100 award-winning products available around the globe. Since 1917, the family-owned company has created icons of childhood, building a legacy of high quality, timeless and innovative toys that spark the imagination and inspire outdoor, active play. With over a billion wheels on the road, Radio Flyer wheels have carried, hauled and fueled more kids’ play and adventures than any other ride-on toy.
With the war over, materials like steel were plentiful again, and the classic steel wagon shape was back in production. Because steel was needed for the war effort, the frozen ride on toys of the World War II era were made of wood. The company redesigned the wheel bearings to be smooth and quiet during this period. A 45-foot wood and plaster statue of a child riding one of his wagons and set up a booth at its base, where he sold mini Radio Flyer replicas to fair-goers for 25 cents each.
Changing the company’s name to Radio Steel & Manufacturing in 1930, Pasin also introduced his first steel wagon, called the Radio Flyer. The now classic toy was named for Pasin’s love and fascination of the radio and air flight. The high quality steel coaster wagons were a huge success and allowed Pasin to increase production while lowering the price. With affordable wagons, the slogan of the company became, “For every boy. For every girl.” Thousands of children enjoyed these classic toys.
The handle is 30 inches long, and the wagon can carry up to 120 pounds. Ideal for ages six months and older, this wagon can carry a total of 300 pounds. The front zipper door lets frozen ride on toy little ones climb in independently, and there are numerous storage pockets on the front, rear, and sides. In 1933, Radio Steel was asked to be a part of the Chicago World’s Fair.
Radio Flyer is engineered with safety and simplicity, and these tricycle and bike options all deliver a great first or second bicycle experience for little cyclers. In 1930, Liberty Coaster changed its name to the Radio Steel & Manufacturing Company. This new name made note of both the new metal technology and the popular Radio Flyer model. The rattle’s legs can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children. Maya Wei-Haas is the assistant editor for science and innovation at Smithsonian.com.