They have all steel bodies with rolled edge rails and are coated with materials that won’t scratch. The classic frozen ride on toy has 10-inch steel wheels and durable solid rubber tires. The easy-swivel handle turns the front wheels and tucks underneath the wagon out of sight when not in use.
Now they are donating 1,000 every year to children’s hospitals across the country, including Carilion Children’s Hospital. Radio Flyer and Starlight have been doing these wagons for about 20 years and they’ve given more than 15,000 to hospitals in places where they’re needed. Doctors, nurses, child life specialists and caregivers across the US rely on these wagons every day as an integral part of a child’s pediatric care. “Our mission is to bring smiles to all children and create warm memories that last a lifetime. If we can help bring even one smile to kids enduring some of their hardest times, we’ve exceeded that mission with the Hero Wagon.” “It’s just been this incredible partnership,” says Pasin, who’s led the company since 1997 and is the grandson of Antonio Pasin, who founded Radio Flyer in 1917.
He incorporated his business as the Liberty Coaster Wagon Company, fondly naming it after the Statue of Liberty that had greeted him when he arrived in his new country. But no one remains on top forever, and when Little Tykes and Step2 introduced plastic wagons in the early 1990s, Radio Flyer faltered. These flashy, cheaper wagons could take on a wider range of designs than the company’s classic metal-stamped variety. By 1917, Antonio saved enough money to rent a one-room workshop, where he began building phonograph cabinets and a variety of other objects upon request.
If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Nice, though not unique — there’s one in Spokane, WA that children are allowed to climb. An employee’s workbench at the Radio Flyer prototype shop bears tools, supplies and figurines for inspiration.
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 radio flyer wagon 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.
There’s nothing that will celebrate the weather getting warmer and spring officially beginning than a way to encourage our kids to get outside, get active, and go wherever their imaginations take frozen ride on toy them. If you’re interested, you can donate money to Starlight specifically to fund these wagons. Starlight CEO Adam Garone told ABC15 his family knows the impact of the wagons firsthand.