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Children have enjoyed the toy wagon long before modern times. Read into childrens wagon history to better understand this playful phenomenon.
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Early Beginnings
Every culture offers a valuable piece in toy wagon history. In ancient Greece, the childrens wagon was common in homes. A simple toy wagon had one or two wheels. Pushed around with a long pole, toy wagons provided kids with hours of fun. Archeological evidence shows toy wagon history runs even deeper. Toy wagons are often found in Egyptian tombs.
On Both Sides of the Globe
Childrens wagon history is not confined to Western heritage. Cultures such as the Aztecs and Mayans had toy carts. In fact, peoples of the New World used wheeled carts exclusively as toys, never making the leap from childishly entertaining to essential practicality.
Rolling Into the Modern Era
Advertising spins children's wagon history in a new direction. In the middle 1800s, toy wagons were sold as mass-produced products. Children could pull each other around the yard with a variety of carriage designs. Some had seats and tops, others were boxes with four wheels and a handle.
A Wagon Legend is Born
In 1923, Italian immigrant Antonio Pasin made children's wagon history with his classic creation, the Radio Flyer. He started mass-producing wagons in his Chicago woodshop. The largest maker of toy wagons, Pasin took his product to Chicago for the 1933 World's Fair. During a time plagued with a looming world war, his Radio Flyer brought people back to simpler pleasures.
Even today, manufacturers still make toy wagon history. Though humble in beginnings, the children's wagon has become a permanent feature in every American yard.
