Figure 1.--Here we see a studio portarit of an unidentified American boy and his pedal car. The postcard back photograph is undated, but looks like the 1920s to us. We see actual car styling.

Pedal cars began to appear at about the same time cars did. But it is only with Henry Ford's Model-T (1907) that we begin to see any number of them. It was the Europeans that invented the automobile, but it was Ford and Amerrica that turned it into a ground shaking phenomenon which literrally changed the world. One source reports pedal cars first appeared in the early-90s. We see very few in the photographic recaord until the 1910s. These early pedal cars of course did not look much like cars, but the cars of the period don't look much like our modern idea of a car. We begin to see pedal cars more commonly in the early-20 centuty. And by the 1910s we see large numbers of images with children, mostly boys, palting with pedal cars. They proved very popular with the chikdren, mostly boys. Pedal car manufacturers began masking pedal cars that resembled the major cars of the era (Buick, Cadillac, Packard, Pierce Arrow, Pope and Winton, and many were other classic makes (1910s). Many specialized vehickes appeared in the 1920s. An pedal car companies followed suit with new types like roadsters. We see pedal cars with large fenders, shiny radiators, and artistic hood ornaments(1920s). And with Lindburg's flight we begin to see airplane pedal cars. Cars got larger and heavier and we begin to see stramlining (1930s). Some of the largest pedal cars appeared at this time. Several companies made pedal cars, including American, National, Gendron, and Steelcraft. We also see artillery wheels with large plated hubcaps. The 1940s after Pearl Harbor, the production of pedal cars virtully stopped (December 1941). Both metal and rubber were strategic materials needed for the war effort. After the War, we begin to see military vehicles as well as new car models (1940s). We begin to see cars with tailfins in the 1950s, emulating jet aircradt and futuristic space cradt. This too was refected in the fantasy pedal cars (1950s). We also see hot rods. Garton and Murray Ohio were two of the most popular pedal car manufacturers. Pedal cars appeared with decals and plastic trim (1960s). A few appeared with spiffy metallic finish. Garton, Murray and AMF produced a range of pedal cars. This ended the classic period of American pedal cars> We cheap see plastic versions in the 1970s.

Chronology

Pedal cars began to appear at about the same time cars did. But it is only with Henry Ford's Model-T (1907) that we begin to see any number of them. It was the Europeans that invented the automobile, but it was Ford and Amerrica that turned it into a ground shaking phenomenon which literrally changed the world. One source reports pedal cars first appeared in the early-90s. We see very few in the photographic recaord until the 1910s. These early pedal cars of course did not look much like cars, but the cars of the period don't look much like our modern idea of a car. We begin to see pedal cars more commonly in the early-20 centuty. And by the 1910s we see large numbers of images with children, mostly boys, palting with pedal cars. They proved very popular with the chikdren, mostly boys. Pedal car manufacturers began masking pedal cars that resembled the major cars of the era (Buick, Cadillac, Packard, Pierce Arrow, Pope and Winton, and many were other classic makes (1910s). The 1940s after Pearl Harbor, the production of pedal cars virtully stopped (December 1941). Both metal and rubber were strategic materials needed for the war effort. After the War, we begin to see military vehicles as well as new car models (1940s). We begin to see cars with tailfins in the 1950s, emulating jet aircradt and futuristic space cradt. This too was refected in the fantasy pedal cars (1950s). We also see hot rods. Garton and Murray Ohio were two of the most popular pedal car manufacturers. Pedal cars appeared with decals and plastic trim (1960s). A few appeared with spiffy metallic finish. Garton, Murray and AMF produced a range of pedal cars. This ended the classic period of American pedal cars> We cheap see plastic versions in the 1970s.

Prevalence

Items ibn 19th century studio portaits acn not be assumed to mbe actual mitens that the families pucyured actuially owned. Studio oerators kept all kinds of items to be used as props. Thois was especaially imprtant with vhildren as they had a habbit of moving and blurring the image. Most pedal car images are family snap shots, meaning we know for sure that these were items that the boys actually had

Social Class

The peddal car like other cimveyances was a largely middle class. This was notyh because of the cost, but also the spoace needed. You basically needed a house and not a cramped apartment as wellas out door space to play.

Ages

Pedal cars were mostly for pre-school children who had not yet learned to ride bikes, rather like trikes. Once a child had mastered the ballance at about 6 years of age, they wanted bicycles. Not all the children are 6 years ols oe younger, but the vast majority are.

Gender

Almost all of the photiograophic images we have found show boys in the pedal cars. We are not entirely sure why this was, but it is very striking in the photographic record.

Specialized Vehicles

It did not take long for specialized vehicles to appear. Bright red fire trucks, of course withn a bell to mring, were popular. Many specialized vehickes appeared in the 1920s. An pedal car companies followed suit with new types like roadsters. We see pedal cars with large fenders, shiny radiators, and artistic hood ornaments(1920s). And with Lindburg's flight we begin to see airplane pedal cars. Cars got larger and heavier and we begin to see stramlining (1930s). Some of the largest pedal cars appeared at this time. We also see artillery wheels with large plated hubcaps. Evenbtually with the Space Race, we not only see rocket styling on cars, but also on pedal cars (1960s).

Comapanies

Several companies made pedal cars, including American, National, Gendron, and Steelcraft.

Created: 6:56 PM 5/17/2011
Last updated: 6:56 PM 5/17/2011