America's Dream Factory For Over 80 Years

Like the original little red wagon that lent the company its name, Radio Flyer Inc. is an American classic - a simple, enduring enterprise that has been reinterpreted with each new generation, creating toys that inspire the imagination. For over 80 years, millions of children have used Radio Flyer wagons in countless voyages into the imagination. The magical qualities, beauty and simplicity of the wagons unleash imaginations and nurture the wonder of childhood. The wagons are truly icons of America.

A Young Man's Dream Finds A Home In America The year was 1914. Like millions of immigrants Antonio Pasin was welcomed to the land of opportunity by the Statue of Liberty. With his head full of dreams, and his feet firmly planted on the ground, 16 year old Antonio stepped off the boat from Italy. He hardly had a cent in his pocket - but he did have smarts, energy and a dream. Antonio was an Old World Craftsman whose family had designed and built fine furniture and cabinets for generations in Italy. His desire to come to America and pursue his dream was so strong that his family sold their mule to pay for his ticket. (Photo - Antonio Pasin started by building phonographic cabinets in his one man workshop)

(Photo - Antonio Pasin started by building phonographic cabinets in his one man workshop)

(Photo - The Liberty Coaster - The dream realized)

Manufacturing Dreams By The Millions In 1917, Antonio purchased some used woodworking equipment and set about hand crafting wooden wagons in a rented one room shop. He made wagons at night and peddled them during the day, carrying samples around in a battered suitcase. Business grew steadily, allowing him to hire a helper and eventually, in 1923 he founded the Liberty Coaster Company, which he named after the Statue of Liberty. Antonio saw how his wagons made dreams come true for kids across America, but he also saw how traditional handcrafting could produce relatively few wagons each day. He turned to the auto industry for inspiration, and began to use metal-stamping technology to produce his wagons. With his eye for innovation, Antonio applied mass-production techniques to wagon-making, creating the first wagon, "For every boy. For every girl." This earned him the nickname, "Little Ford." (Photo - The Liberty Coaster - The dream realized)

High Hopes In Hard Times By 1930, the company operated under a new name, Radio Steel & Manufacturing, and was already the world's largest producer of coaster wagons. However, these were hard times for America, and Americans learned how to make do, or simply do without. But even in tough times they dreamed of a better life for their children, and continued to demand the basic value that Radio Flyer delivered. Throughout the 1930's, the new coaster wagon factory never closed its doors. In fact, Antonio often said with pride, that even during the depression his factory produced more than 1,500 wagons a day. (Photo - By the 1930's Radio Flyer was a thriving business)

(Photo - By the 1930's Radio Flyer was a thriving business)

(Photo - Constructing Coaster Boy)

World's Fair Exhibit The company's growth continued and in 1933, just 16 years after its founding, Antonio built a 45-foot tall "Coaster Boy" exhibit that was the hit of the Chicago World's fair. Visitors were amazed by the Radio Flyer exhibit. Inside, a showroom featured the latest Radio Flyer products and offered visitors a miniature wagon for just a quarter. In a decade and a half, the poor boy from Venice had become one of Chicago's representatives to the world. (Photo - Constructing Coaster Boy) The name Antonio gave his toy wagons captured the spirit of the times. For the wagon that has become an icon - the popular Model #18, he chose the word Radio, because everyone was fascinated by this, the new wireless invention of fellow Italian Guglielmo Marconi, and Flyer, which gave a nod to the wonder of flight.

A New Generation Of Ideas The spectacular World's Fair exhibit made Radio Flyer world famous. But it wasn't the only new idea to come out of the company during the Depression. In the mid-30's the company introduced the Streak-O-Lite, a coaster wagon that featured sleek styling inspired by the Zephyr streamline trains, complete with control dials and working headlights. A few years later they created Zep, a wagon with the flowing lines and fender of the Chrysler Airflow, the first mass-produced aerodynamic automobile. (Photo -Radio Flyer's wagon showroom in Chicago)

(Photo -Radio Flyer's wagon showroom in Chicago)

(Photo - the "Blitz Can")

Radio Flyer Goes To War After the Depression, America began to feel that things were going better. But suddenly, in late 1941, Radio Flyer's workers went off to war. Steel, the company's basic raw material, was rationed by the government. The company contributed to the war effort by manufacturing one of the most familiar pieces of military equipment - the "Blitz Can." These five - gallon fuel cans were mounted on the backs of jeeps, trucks and tanks to carry the fuel and water needed by the Allied troops stationed in Europe, Africa and the Pacific. (Photo - the "Blitz Can")

Bright Ideas For The Baby Boom Finally, after years of Depression and war, men and women saw the chance to make their personal dreams come true. By the millions they began to migrate to the suburbs, where they could own their own homes and nurture a new generation of Americans. Not only did the burgeoning families increase demand for wagons, but they also inspired another burst of innovation. The second generation of the Pasin family, Antonio's son, took the company's helm. He recognized that the new suburban homes were different than the traditional city homes. They had extensive lawns and gardens that needed to be mowed, raked and weeded. In response to this growing need, the company developed a line of garden carts and eventually wheelbarrows. (Photo-above: Riding in style, right: the Radio Cart)

(Photo-above: Riding in style, right: the Radio Cart)

(Photo - the Radio Rancher)

The Next Generation In addition to creating a successful new garden line, the second generation generated new ideas for the company's most famous product line: coaster wagons. Seeing that so many moms and dads were using wagons to transport their young children, Radio Flyer introduced the Radio Rancher, the first to wagon incorporate "high sides" for pulling younger kids. (Photo - the Radio Rancher)

Safety First

Modern By Design Transportation industry trends continued to inspire Radio Flyer's coaster wagon designs. Auto enthusiasts who grew up in the late 1960's and early 70's can recognize the Detroit muscle car look in the Fireball 200's upswept rear spoiler, massive slicks and day-glo colors. (Photo - The Fireball 200. The "muscle car" of coaster wagons) After All These Years, The Dream Still Drives Us Eighty years have passed since young Antonio Pasin, began handcrafting wooden wagons in a one-room shop in Chicago. In the years since, Radio Flyer has grown to be the world's leading producer of toy wagons - from hand-crafted wood wagons, to stamped steel wagons, and to the latest in all-plastic wagons

(Photo - The Fireball 200. The "muscle car" of coaster wagons)

(Photo - Miniatures of our classic products, reproduced with real working parts)

New Products Give The Dream A New Life With every new product the dream comes to life again. In 1994, Radio Flyer introduced the Model #5, a scaled down version of the classic steel wagon, and it quickly became one of our best sellers ever. Now the "Little Line" includes six great items. These little Radio Flyers seem to unleash the childhood nostalgia that has built up over the years. Radio Flyer's new All-Terrain Wagons keep up with consumer demand for wagons that go off-road. Like the popular 4x4 vehicles of the 90's, the ATW is ready to tackle the great outdoors or anywhere else imaginations can go. (Photo left - The Radio Flyer has become so famous, a Hollywood motion picture was released in 1991) And another new product line for Radio Flyer is the Christmas collection. For generations Radio Flyer wagons have been a traditional holiday gift for children. Now people can celebrate thosefond childhood memories with a Radio Flyer wagon ornament! (Photo right - Miniatures of our classic products, reproduced with real working parts)

The New Generation Looks To The Future Antonio's grandchildren, the third generation of the Pasin family to take over the operations of Radio Flyer, are dedicated to maintaining the tradition of quality, safety and service for which the company is known. At the same time, the new management team is developing new products and techniques that will carry Radio Flyer into the new century. The family is uniquely inspired by what their grandfather and father created and accomplished through hard work and determination. Antonio Pasin's dream truly lives on in the third generation of the Pasin family. (Photo -In celebration of the 80th Anniversary, Radio Flyer built the world's largest wagon at 27 feet long, 21 feet high, and weighing over 7 tons)

(Photo -In celebration of the 80th Anniversary, Radio Flyer built the world's largest wagon at 27 feet long, 21 feet high, and weighing over 7 tons)

ll images and information provided on this page is the property of the Radio Flyer Corporation. The original corporate version of this Radio Flyer history can be found at www.RadioFlyer.com/history.html