For several hundred years, America has been the destination for impoverished people from all over the world when life in their home countries became untenable. As such, a mythology arose about the country. In the 1800s, this was perpetuated by the US government which wanted to encourage immigrants to move from the eastern cities towards the empty west of the country. They were promised a free patch of land in the ‘wild west’. Unfortunately the reality for the pioneers was very different from the romantic notion that was suggested. There was no food unless the pioneers hunted it, no infrastructure to support them …and it was already inhabited by native americans who resented the new settlers taking their land.
Nevertheless, the romantic notion has persisted, encouraged by the movies as soon as that industry was established in the early 1900s. My generation gew up with ‘cowboys and indians’ at the cinema and on TV. Davy Crockett was one of those featured …the ‘King of the Wild Frontier’.
Hettrick introduced their pedal wagon tricycle in 1948, describing it as a ‘velocipede and wagon combined’. There were three sizes, with either 12 inch, 16 inch or 20 inch front wheels. Other manufacturers soon copied the design, but the Hettrick was the market leader.
Davy Crockett was TV’s first mini-series, running from 1954 to 1955 on ABC. It sparked a Davy Crockett craze, and Walt Disney capitalized by selling Davy Crockett colouring books, collectible pins, coonskin caps, etc. He also licensed riding toy makers to add Davy Crockett decals on some coaster wagons and to bring out a Crockett wagon cover for small chuck wagons. There was also a Crockett bicycle, and a tricycle …With the addition of a tarpaulin for the back and a special headbadge, the Hettrick became the ‘Davy Crockett Pioneer Pedal Wagon’.
1955 Walt Disney Official Hettrick Davy Crockett Pioneer Pedal Wagon
New-old-stock, Unused model
LENGTH: 45″
WIDTH: 19″
HEIGHT: 33″
Front wheel 16″
Rer wheels 10″
The Davy Crockett Pioneer Pedal Wagon was not sold in large numbers. This example was a shop display model that was never sold to the public, which is why it has remained in immaculate condition. After its display it was owned by a pedal car collector in the USA until I managed to buy it in 2017. The Davy Crockett saddle cover is an accessory that is even rarer than the pedal wagon. Everything is in superb condition and it is ready to ride or display.
DAVY CROCKETT SADDLE COVER
1935 MICKEY MOUSE CLUB MOUSEKETEER WESTERN PRAIRIE WAGON
