Radio Flyer, Est 1917

This gray non-slip footrest can be attached to Radio Flyer stroller trikes to help keep kids’ feet elevated and away from the pedals. The stroller trike is sold separately and recommended for kids younger than 2 years old. I have seen Radio Flyer wagons at local mercantile stores as of late and I’m sure there are some other places where they can be found. I have also noticed that these are not as easy to find as they used to be. If someone wants a Radio Flyer wagon but can’t find one locally, the Internet is a great place to shop.

The value of a Radio Flyer will depend a great deal on its condition. A lot of these wagons were used hard by the kids who loved them. It’s uncommon to find a very old wagon in pristine condition. Unlike many other antiques, this is a rare instance when restoration can increase the value. Highway Chief – This model had high green wood sides with slats, making it great for kids who wanted to haul a lot of stuff.

The Liberty Coaster Company began producing the wooden bodied “No. 4 Liberty Coaster” in 1923. In 1927, Pasin replaced the wooden body with stamped steel, taking advantage of assembly line manufacturing techniques and earning him the nickname “Little Ford”. 1500 wagons a day rolled off assembly lines even during the Great Depression.

It was inspired by the 45 foot tall “Coaster Boy” model, the Radio Flyer hit of the 1933 World’s Fair. Antonio Pasin, a sixteen year old Italian immigrant, was looking for cabinet making work in Chicago in 1914.2Instead he began his American work experience as a water boy for a sewer digging crew. After three years of working various jobs, Antonio bought some used woodworking tools and rented a small workshop space where he could use the wood crafting skills his father and grandfather had taught him. Pasin, who became company head in 1997, said the wagon has become a “kid transport,” with some of the most popular tweaks coming from ingenious hacks of unsuspecting customers. Their canopies, for example, are formal variations on what they saw parents jury-rigging above Radio Flyers on rainy days in Lincoln Park. Asked what innovations he would like to see come to the red wagon if he ran Radio Flyer, he laughs nervously and says the job is really about thinking three steps ahead ….

For over 100 years, countless voyages of childhood fantasy have been launched with Radio Flyer toys. Their beauty, simplicity, and standards of safety encourage adventure, discovery, and capture the wonders of youth. For the past century, Radio Flyer toys continue to spark the imagination, as Radio Flyer is rediscovered with each new generation. Radio Flyer also worked with Mattel, one of the two largest American toy companies, licensing its name on the popular Hot Wheels brand of toy cars to make what appeared to be a souped-up race car-type wagon. Other licensed products included a toy Radio Flyer wagon that held a stuffed toy of the beloved Curious George monkey, and another similar toy with a Gund brand stuffed bear.

The word Radio was chosen because Pasin felt it represented the sense of wonder the future offered. His first steel wagon he named the Radio Flyer® Wagon to represent the idea of flight, as well. The story of the imaginary journeys of two boys in their frozen ride on toy.

radio flyer wagon

Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington features a large red wagon that doubles as a playground slide. The interactive sculpture was sculpted by Ken Spiering and installed in 1989. KJ razor ride ons Callihan is a writer for The Spruce who has created product reviews and shopping guides for sites like Knoji, Finfrock Marketing, CNET, AAA Northeast magazine, and Oh My Veggies.