There are very few brand names that manage to inspire nothing but admiration, but Radio Flyer wagons have reached that level. For generations, they have been making some of the most beloved children’s toys in the world, and they haven’t experienced any kind of let down or decrease in quality, which is a major reason why they are one of the most trusted names in toys. Every child, no matter where they grow up, dreams of owning one of these toys. The product line has expanded considerably since the early days but the signature quality hasn’t changed. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this brand so special.
Quality
Above all else, the Radio Flyer wagon is known for premium quality. The company uses the same signature steel body today as they did almost a century ago to create a toy that stands up not only to weather but also to generations’ worth of use. Quality is the reason why this brand sold the best selling children’s toy in the 1920’s and the same reason why they are still selling one of the most popular toys in the world today. The quality isn’t just apparent on the steel body. The handle and arm this toy uses is also made from steel and is often painted black. The handle is extremely comfortable to hold and use, even for long periods of time and every part of this toy is more likely to stand up to punishment than we are. You can define quality in many different ways, but it doesn’t really matter how you choose to define it here. This is a toy that has been known since 1917 as being made to the highest quality, and when you consider how many other brands we used to count on that we can’t anymore, it only makes this brand all the more remarkable.
Innovation
A person today may look at the traditional Radio Flyer wagon and see an old fashioned toy that hasn’t changed much in the last century, but that point of view belies the truth: when the original product was unveiled, it was one of the most state of the art toys the world had ever seen. What was even more amazing than the steel body, easy grip handle and ultra-durable wheels was the fact that the whole package was available at such a low price. You received amazing quality, amazing innovation all for an amazing value. It is easy to see why this product still remains one of the most popular in the world. To the casual observer, it may appear that the innovation stopped sometime around 1918, but as new materials have become available and new technology for manufacturing has become commonplace, this brand has continued to change, improve and explore different ways of making the best kids toys in the world. It is unclear what the future holds for this famed toy brand, but one thing is for sure. If you are searching for innovation, than this is a company you should keep an eye on, even if you aren’t looking for wagons.
Durability
Working hand in hand with the quality associated with children’s wagons is durability. While many of today’s models can be used both indoors and outdoors, back in the olden days, this was a toy that was strictly kept in the yard, and often times stored in the yard, as well. That meant that it stayed out in the rain, out in the snow, out in the blazing sun and out in the wind. If this toy didn’t have incredible durability, it wouldn’t last a single season, but most did, and now this brand is known far and wide for creating some of the most durable toys in the history of childhood. There are even stories of kids inheriting their father’s or grandfather’s toy since it was still in great shape. How many other toys can you say that about? The durability extends to all of the various parts that this toy is made of. From the steel body to the high quality wheels to the handle and arm, it is a toy that is going to stand up to rough housing, bumps, bruises and just about everything else. If you are searching for a toy that will be there year after year, ready to play, than this is the one.
Value
While you may not be able to get a kids wagon for a few bucks anymore, when you consider the quality, the durability and the innovation, it is still an incredibly good value. Most toys these days don’t last more than a few months, or if they do, kids tend to lose interest in them. With this toy, you can have it by your side season after season and even your kids can expect to get use out of it a generation later. What is still so surprising is that this item is still such a great value today as it was all those years ago. It goes without saying that the cost of high grade steel and the cost of all of the other parts that go into a Radio Flyer wagon are significantly more expensive today then they were decades ago. Instead of substituting those parts with cheaper versions to cut costs, the company stayed the course and kept on providing the highest quality pieces they could find. This isn’t just a remarkable commitment to quality, it is their way of saying that they love their customers and that they understand the legacy their company has. People expect the best quality for the best value and they get it.
History
While it may be difficult to imagine a time without Radio Flyer wagons, the world did not see the first until 1917. The company as we know it today wasn’t born until a few years later in 1930 when the company changed its name to Radio Steel and Manufacturing. As it turned out, the first wagon that was produced by this company was known as a Radio Flyer. The name has become so iconic, so well known, and so associated with traditional Americana, the company changed its name to Radio Flyer to take advantage of the popularity of their signature toy.
Despite what many people think, this company has actually created many different toys over the years, such as a Mickey Mouse inspired toy in the 1950’s and another one patented after well known dare devil Evel Kneivel in the 1970’s. Today, the company manufactures dozens of different toys in addition to their best known model, which will likely be in production for generations to come.
The impact that this brand has had on pop culture can not be overstated. Not only was their signature product featured heavily in the popular film A Christmas Story, a far more serious film that featured the company name as its title was released in 1992. In addition to film credits, this brand has been a fixture of kid’s magazines, television shows, campy advertising and just about every other part of today’s culture that you can imagine. The product has been showcased on radio, in song and even on stage. There are very few products created at any point in American history, save the Ford automobile, that has garnered more fame and more notoriety than this toy and this company has.
This company hasn’t always made award winning children’s toys. During World War II, it had to create other items that were needed for war time. One of those items were gas cans. The metal working experts who had been spending their time creating wagons were suddenly making gas cans and other items from that same high quality steel. Today, if you can find one of these gas cans, it can be worth quite a bit of money.
Although this company has always been best known for their one signature toy, they have always created a whole line of products, and that tradition continues today with the inclusion of fire engines, racers and a few other products that are all built to the same quality standards that their signature product is. It is rare to see a company take its legacy for quality, performance and value so seriously, especially since they could likely make a lot more money by cutting corners, but they have yet to fall for that trap. When you purchase a toy from this company, you know that you are getting almost 100 years worth of toy building knowledge and so much more.
Conclusion
The Radio Flyer wagon is the single most iconic toy in American history. No other single item has captured the imagination of generation after generation like this one has, and best of all, you can still buy the same toy today that you could generations ago. If you are looking for the ultimate outdoor toy for your child, you can’t do any better than a toy from this famed and heralded company.