Radio Flyer

What if I told you that the iconic little red wagon you know and love was born right here in Chicago? Stand before the Radio Flyer headquarters, a two-story industrial building that stands as a testament to a century of childhood joy. This is the place where the dream of Antonio Pasin, an Italian immigrant who arrived in Chicago in 1914, took shape. He started building wooden toy wagons in 1917, selling them to local shops. He was a craftsman, making phonograph cabinets, and built small wooden wagons to carry his tools around. When customers started asking to buy the wagons, he shifted his business to making them. His wagons became so popular, he formed the Liberty Coaster Company in 1923, named in honor of the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of hope and freedom. But the demand for these wooden wagons, called the “Liberty Coaster,” rapidly outstripped production. Antonio, inspired by mass production techniques of the automobile industry, began making wagons out of stamped steel in 1927. He even earned the nickname “Little Ford” for his production methods. About that time, the red wagons sold for less than $3, about $40 in today’s money. Can you imagine that? Children in the 1920s and 1930s were rolling down the sidewalks, feeling the wind in their hair, for just a few dollars! In 1930, the company was renamed Radio Steel & Manufacturing, and so it went on to produce steel-bodied wagons, becoming a symbol of American ingenuity and childhood nostalgia. It’s a legacy that continues to this day, as the little red wagon rolls on, bringing smiles and laughter to generations. The Radio Flyer’s history is a testament to the power of innovation, imagination, and the enduring joy of childhood.