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Origins and History of Pedal Cars
| Children have always desired adult objects. Looking back when horse drawn carriages were used by adults, kids played with correctly sized replicas. It was a natural for toy makers to begin creating cars for children when automobiles became a popular icon. Children’s bicycles became popular in the late 1800's and wheeled toys took off. Kids could play by themselves and others on riding toys in the relative safety of the backyard. As adult cars became more complicated this was reflected in their counterparts. Several toy car companies were founded before the turn of the century. Sheet metal bodies, wooden chassis and wooden wheels with hard rubber tires were common features on these early pedal cars. Most pedal cars had simple generic auto styling, but a few were styled to look like real cars. Little details became marketing tools: Oil cans, little tool boxes, highly polished radiators, turn signals, instrument panels, leather upholstery, and even rumble seats. In the 1940’s, wartime created more utilitarian vehicles. Tractors, Jeeps, and airplanes were the main pedal car toys of the era. Imagine a little one trying to help the war effort in his own way while playing in his backyard. By the 1950’s, pedals cars hit an all-time high. Returning war heroes made sure their children had all the things that they missed because of the depression and war. |
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