How old is my flexible flyer

Now a household name, the Flexible Flyer was unique because of its steering ability. Up to that point, a sled rider had little control beyond traveling in a straight line — toboggans were equally likely to travel only in a straight line as well. The popularity of the Flexible Flyer brand grew steadily in the s. The model names in this series indicated the length of the sled. Between and the model name was displayed on the deck.

After , the series name and model were displayed on the undercarriage. One has the name displayed on the deck while the other has it displayed underneath. This means one is likely from c. This series was ended by Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We are dedicated to sharing the history of our community. It demonstrates that an old sled can brought back to beauty if the underlying wood is sound.

Note the wooden side rails running the full length of the sled. It has grooved runners and, with the black and red stripes, the date is estimated at from to We are fortunate to have obtained it as there are no defects at all. The footrests came with it. FF - 3 C This sled also dates after The scroll work is slightly different and the sled is in original condition.

FF - 4 C These sleds date from to When acquired, very little could be seen of the graphics and the wood was bare. The upper sled had a broken side rail that was repaired, but otherwise both sleds were of solid structure. The sleds are pictured with close ups of their scroll work. The refinishing process is described in another section of this site. Both sleds had a pair of predrilled holes in the front cross pieces, and an extra vertical rivet with a nearby predrilled hole in the side rail.

We learned that they were for foot rests that were an option when one purchased the sled. A local blacksmith accommodated us and built several pairs based on models from other sleds. All of the holes on the Nos 4, 5, 6, Chief, and Cruiser are the same, except for the second position on the No 5 and the Cruiser.

A pair has been installed on the bottom sled. FF - 5 C This sled dates from as can be told by the fact that the eagle carries a sled. We call this the "Great Uncle Sled" and it well deserves the appellation "great" as it is 63 inches long. Note the stirrups or foot rests that came with it, for multiple riders sitting upright. The graphics in the middle of the sled turned out to be excellent after cleaning it with the methods taught by Art Bransky. The logo is about as good as it can be.

FF - 5 C Another sled from the same era as above, but fully restored. The shellac finish had bubbled so badly that the graphics and lettering were hard to see. By cleaning the sled with alcohol, all of the bubbling called alligatoring by some was removed, but the logo and lettering remained. The side graphics were restored by hand painting and the center board graphics were restored first by hand painting the front one and then converting a digital image to a stencil with the help of a sign technician.

The resulting stencil was used to paint the graphic behind the logo. After using a mild wood bleach, that did not touch the graphics, we used a satin finish UV polyurethane to produce a hard protective finish.

A previous owner went to great trouble to strengthen the sled by adding screws to the top and pieces of reinforcing steel on the ends of the cross pieces. We left the screws but covered the tops with plastic wood that we stained. The metal was all sandblasted and refinished, and we added footrests to the positions.

This sled is ready for use! FF - 5 C Yet another 5 C that needed restoration. Most of them do not have the foot rests so after a complete restoration the center logo and side graphics were still ok we attached both the front and second position foot rests, which are different. How many Flexy Racers were manufactured? How many No. I am referring to the Flexible Flyers with wheels.

Grew up on glenwood ave. Ran for lunches in the summer. Remember the drop press going all night long. Do you remember the Witsch family on Glenwood Ave? I am not sure of the house number.

There was also a Mr. They were both living there when you were. My grandfather, William T. I remember him taking us on a tour of the factory and to his office and the board room probably about Pretty impressive. Sad to see the state of the old place. Thanks for the nice article. My father worked at S. Allen for 20 some years as did his brother in law John Hornketh, my older brother George, a cousin, and many good friends. We had a Planet Jr. Dad would build us go-karts from parts and wood from the plant.

We had a Flexi-Racer for downhill fun in the summertime too. The Ash used for the slats on the sleds made good kindling in the winter. Dad would bring home bundles of waste and defects from the plant. Dad would bring home the eagle decal and we would put them on our book covers and lunch boxes. My brother and I grew up around S. It certainly was a part of all our lives. Thanks for the information! Over time, pretty much every model has shown up for sale.

Good luck in your quest! Great article. I truly hate to see buildings like this left to deteriorate only to be torn down and replaced with something that will last only a short time compared to this building.

Do you know where I could get a Flexible Flyer Airline decal? I have a sled my mothers family owned and the finish is in bad shape. Would love to restore it. I still have a racer. I had to purchase new wheels. But grandkids have not shown much interest.

You have one of the wheeled ones for coasting down roads? Man, I would love to strap on a helmet and give that thing a try. I have one with the wheels sl flexy racer. I recently acquired an Airline Eagle model that I believe is from the thirties. Actually I mostly has Speedways because they were less money. An interesting story is that on our hill up ten or fifteen sleds would go down at once in a sort of demo derby.

He who made it down first won. The Speedways actually had an advantage because the Flyers had the rounded enclosed back that could easily be flipped over from behind. Oh ya my brothers and I should have died many times growing up. In ending I love the history of American Mtg.

Allen and Co. Thanks for listening Randall Giovannucci from Shrewsbury, Ma. Cool pictures, parents bought a used flexy racer in the 60s in ca. We attached a sail to it and rode it in the Santa Ana winds down the street, used it so much the axle snapped and dad thru it away. I bought one at a second hand store in the 70s and we would strap a aluminum military stretcher that had two wheels on the end and ride it down the main fairways of the local golf course late at night.

At that time ice blocking was popular, a twenty lb block of ice was ridden down the fairways but you had no control of your direction, the flexy with stretcher was steerable and could avoid the trees and other obstacles.

We could get five or more people on the racer and it was faster than the ice blocks. I have two racers hanging in the garage, one of which we mounted a lamp on the front to race down steep roads at night with, if we bring out the racers to a park they draw a crowd almost immediately , sure was good memories. My sister and I flew down the very steep street we lived on in the 50s,head first using our heads back then? Amazingly we are still here on earth!

My great-grandmother worked for the family for 10 years as an indentured servant after coming over from Ireland as a teenager. Grew up in that neighborhood. Then we moved to Marshall st. It was great beautiful Bldg. Thanks for the article.

I still have my flexible flyer sled, still works better than any other I see on the snow hills. I worked there in as a Jr engineer fresh out of Temple. The runners were made on a drop hammer. Then heated and the safety runner bent.

Two completed sleds were wired together and dunked in a varnish tank. I found to flexible flyer sleds like new and a flexy racer brand new not togetter in my dads garagewith directions. Wow, love reading the comments. No one ever claimed it, and it became mine. It was incredible. Fast and exciting!! It was my favorite. Rode it home from grammar school, downhill all the way. So fast!!!!! I worked at the bldg. I think there was a school there which was run by Phila.

Does anyone remember anything about that. I still have two Flyers from my kids from the 70s. Thanks, Joe.

My name is Joe Petree and I am wondering if you are a cousin. I think Phil had 3 sons, Phil, William and Robert. Are you that Robert Masciantonio or a relative? I have a flexy racer no. I have a Flexible Flyer sled and Flexy racer sled with wheels. They were gifts over sixty years ago! Your email address will not be published.