As a kid, riding in or owning a Radio Flyer was a rite of passage. But, did you know Radio Flyer has been a family owned business since 1917? The company was started by Antonio Pasin in Chicago. His carts, or wagons, became so popular he formed Liberty Coaster in 1923 and began producing his wagons.
The original Liberty Coaster Company, named after the Statue of Liberty, made wooden wagons similar to the ones Antonio used to cart around his tools in his work as a craftsman selling phonograph cabinets. As demand and industry grew, he took a cue from the automotive business and began to produce stamped steel wagons in 1927. The company was renamed Radio Steel and Manufacturing in 1930 after two prominent men of the day, Guglielmo Marconi and Charles Lindbergh. The Liberty Coaster was also renamed after them, hence the name ”Radio Flyer”.
Along with the namesake red wagon, the company has produced many similar products including the 1930s “Zephyr” a take on the Chrysler Airflow car. Other popular models include the yellow 1950s wagon inspired by Davy Crockett and the blue wagon inspired by Mickey Mouse. There were many more iterations to follow including one based on Evel Knievel in the 1970s. One of the most popular products was and still is the little red tricycle.
Of course, the company is still in business today. The classic red wagon is still available along with everything from tiny 5” wagons up to large all terrain wagons.They now produce many more products including wagons, trikes, strollers, bikes, scooters, and ride on toys. You can even create your own custom Radio Flyer.
For more on the history of the company, check out Wikipedia.
For more on vintage toys, check out our vintage Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars post.
