1952 Hettrick 'American' Pedal Wagon (12" wheel)

1952 Hettrick ‘American’ Pedal Wagon (12″ wheel)

As seen in the 1920 Sears Roebuck catalogue extract, above, early ‘commercial’ style children’s riding toys were wagons that could be pulled or pushed. Hand-pulled wagons were a popular toy over many decades. By the 1930s, some were adapted to be pulled behind pedal tractors and other riding toys. Some American toddler size tricycles were made with an open box behind, and chain driven tricycles for older kids were common in Great Britain with rear boxes with hinged lids. But the Hettrick Pedal Wagon, introduced in 1948, was one of the first velocipede tricycles of the style seen here. Variants included a fireman’s wagon. The catalogue illustration below is from a 1949 Sears Roebuck catalogue.