Just seeing a little red wagon causes most adults to recall a time in childhood when many hours were spent playing with this favorite toy. The Radio Red Flyer wagon has been around, practically unchanged, for more than seventy years. This is remarkable when we consider all the changes that have been made in most products during this time. The little red wagon continues to provide pleasure to children today.
The Liberty Coaster wagon was the first wagon produced by Antonio Pasin in 1917.Pasin was an Italian immigrant who worked as a cabinetmaker. Even though the wagon, the Liberty Coaster was not a big seller, the response from the public was enough that he started the Liberty Coaster Company in 1923. Even with its limited production the wagon found its way into some early Little Rascals movies. The success of the Radio Flyer Company which started as the Liberty Coaster Company is truly a great American success story.
When Pasin entered the United States as a young boy, one of the first sights he saw was the Statue of Liberty. Several years later when he was ready to introduce a toy wagon to the American public, he remembered the Statue of Liberty and named his wagon the Liberty Coaster in its honor. He wanted parents to be able to give their children something-a wagon- that his parents could not afford to give him as a child in Italy. His wagon, built of wood with metal wheels was simple in design and high in quality-just what the toy market desired.
The 1920’s saw the introduction of the radio into American homes and progress in aviation. Pasin, like most Americans was enthralled with both. Naming the company Radio Flyer combined two of the subjects he was passionate about.
A wagon provides the means for a child to get physical exercise and use his/her imagination. Many happy hours can be spent in the wagon pretending it is all types of fun vehicles. Whether it’s a downhill racer or an old west wagon it is a means to get outside and moving.
Antonio Pasin risked his financial future on an exhibit for the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1933. This exhibit was called “Coaster Boy” and was spectacular with a 45 foot tall statue of a boy in a Radio Flyer wagon. To recoup some of the cost Pasin had a small workshop under the statue where miniature wagons were made and sold to fair goers for 25cents each. The Radio Flyer brand became well known through this endeavor and sales skyrocketed. 1500 wagons a day were produced even during the Great Depression. Today, even in recessionary times, sales are better than ever.
Learn more about Radio Flyer Little Red Wagons #1. Stop by Wayland Royce’s site where you can find out all about Radio Flyer Products #2 and how you can get one in time for Christmas.