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. Radio Flyer, Inc., maker of the famous and beloved Little Red Wagon™ is the world’s leading producer of wagons, tricycles, pre-school scooters and other ride-ons.
Three years later, Antonio had saved enough money to open a small woodworking shop. Working there at night, the young man hand crafted wooden wagons. Pasin initially started selling wooden wagons in 1917, and in 1923 he built the first wood and steel wagon to bear the name Radio Flyer. That kind of versatility has certainly given the radio flyer wagon iconic, fire hy‐ drant red Radio Flyer some serious staying power. The company has been around a full century, with roots stretch‐ ing back to the early 1900s when the future founder of the company, Antonio Pasin, arrived in America. Antonio was born in 1898 to a family of cabinetmakers that lived in a small town outside of Venice.
You can easily set it up when the sun is up to protect your kids from harmful UV rays. When it is not in use, you can retract and store it on the back outer sleeve. A foot brake would also be a welcome improvement for the Radio Flyer 3-in-1 EZ Fold Wagon With Canopy. Essentially, you can’t be confident about leaving your kids unattended while riding this wagon. One issue that many users deal with is this cart’s wheels.
It allowed kids to carry lots of stuff but with a fun 1950s style. The holiday, which celebrates the little red wagons invented by Radio Flyer founder Antonio Pasin, was first marked in 2016 as part of the company’s celebration of its 100th anniversary. The Zephyr also inspired Radio Flyer, operators of a successful pavilion at the fair, to issue a special version of their new “Streak-O-Lite” wagon embellished with an image of the Zephyr. A smaller version, the Baby Streak-O-Lite, was made for “Tots Up to 3 Years” and sold for ninety-five cents. Radio Flyer, a Chicago legend, is marking its 100th anniversary this year. The electric bikes, sold under the Flyer name, have only been around since last year, and they reinforce the family orientation.
Then, when I have my young nephews for the day, it can completely replace the stroller and they get the fun of a stroller wagon ride, while I get room for all our family’s drinks and gear. By some estimates, Pasin’s sales team sold more than 120,000 miniature coaster wagons by the time the fair concluded in 1934. Many were radio flyer wagon red, like the one in our collection, but blue and green were also available, among others. Considering the volume of the souvenirs produced, many of these special 1933 mini Radio Flyers are still in circulation. But as evidenced by the condition of our artifact, time can take its toll on the rubber wheels and paint job.
The “World’s Largest Wagon” is a sculpture commissioned by Radio Flyer in honor of their 80th anniversary. It is nine times the size of a little red wagon, and weighs 15,000 pounds . A number of designs and styles have been produced by Radio Flyer, often inspired by the automobiles or popular culture of the day. The “Zephyr”, produced in the 1930s, paid homage to the Chrysler Airflow.