1920’s Flexible Flyer No 1 C Antique Primitive Wood Sled, sleigh, tobaggan

Description

Rare find!

1920’s Antique Flexible Flyer Child’s Primitive Wood Sled

No 1 C

SLA & Co Phila

The C Series was made from 1915 to about 1928, this series utilized an all-steel front end initiated on the Tuxedo Racer a few years before. Partway through the series, the logo on the center of the sled was modified. In 1921 the eagle in the logo started carrying a sled whereas before it was an American shield. S.L.A. & Co. Inc. Phila.

Samuel Leeds Allen, the inventor of the Flexible Flyer, came from a prominent Philadelphia Quaker family. In the 1860s, he established the S. L. Allen Co. to manufacture farm equipment, including some items of his own invention. In order to diversify his product line and provide work during the winter months, Allen, himself a “coasting” enthusiast since boyhood, set about inventing a sled. Typical designs of the day employed a pair of fixed wooden runners with a third, pivotable steering runner attached to a handle. Allen first experimented with articulated sleds having two or more “bobs” with fixed runners that could pivot relative to each other to provide steering.

Eventually, he conceived of a sled with runners that were weakened in the middle to act as a hinge to permit the front portion to pivot for steering. This led to the design which became the Flexible Flyer with “super steering” -a sled with a pair of laterally flexible runners attached to the frame in a way that permitted them to be bent sideways to a great extent and with little effort. He accomplished this by attaching the front pair of runner struts to a crossbar that floats (is not attached) relative to the seat. This permits the runners to flex sideways starting at a point just ahead of the rear struts. A conventional sled lacking this floating crossbar arrangement has runners that can thus only flex forward of the front struts, severely limiting the steering capability of the sled.

7″h laying flat x 38 1/4″L x 21″w at steering

One of 7 antique wood sleds is currently available. Get them now while selection is good. They will go fast!

condition: vintage worn condition ready for display. marks and wear that you’d expect for its age and use. Will benefit from a good cleaning. some graphics are worn away.

UPS ground professionally packed and insured. FREE PICK UP at our warehouse in Pa, 18512.

Thanks!

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