Page 26 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles December 2019
P. 26
by Kary Pardy
Coasting into Childhood on Vintage Wooden Sleds
M ost of us in snowy climates have fond memories of racing downhill Allen’s invention in the late 1880s. Allen was a farm implement manufacturer
on sleds, and these memories are not unique to our generation. and wanted to design a sled based on his own experiences. He had his children
Americans have been searching for worthy hills since before the test out each prototype, including the Aeriel, the Fleetwing, and the Phantom,
American Revolution. Apart from a few notable fashion differences, children but these sleds never made it into production. They held up to eight adults but
racing down the hills of Boston Common back in the 18th century would look were impractical and too pricey.
very similar to children in the same location today. Sleds can provide joy to Allen’s most successful sled drew from those designs but added “T” shaped
wood at the top, extended steel runners and a slatted seat. By pulling a line
adults as well. Apart from an occasional ride, sleds also make notable
collectibles, admired for their strong powers of nostalgia, their exterior art
attached to the T in one direction, a rider could bend the slender steel runners
(if available), the rarity of certain models, and their decorative function. in the desired direction of travel. The “Flexible Flyer” was patented on
February 14th, 1889.
Growing the Brand
Despite being an innovative design, Flyers did not sell as well as their
contemporaries, the Storm King, Swift Glider, Lightning Glider, etc. because
they were all competing for buyers in the same now-unexpected location,
farm implement retail stores. Allen cleverly marketed his Flexible Flyers to
Wanamaker’s and Macy’s toy departments and by 1915 he sold upwards of
2,000 sleds a day and 120,000 sleds in one winter season.
The “Racer” model was the star of the Flexible Flyer line but didn’t have
the same decoration. Allen marked his Racers with a red arrow to symbolize
their speed, aided by their reduced weight. Racers were one third lighter than
standard Flyers. The Tuxedo Racer took the model even further and added
metal runners forward of the supports, a trait that became stander with all
Allen sleds after 1915. Allen also offered an economy sled, called the “FireFly,”
that traded in metal for all-wood side rails and flat runners.
Around 1861, Henry F. Morton had plans to attend college but suffered eyestrain from
studying that made it difficult, so he took up sled building! He built them in his kitchen
to make extra money and his wife painted them. Morton formed the West Sumner
Manufacturing Company and as word of his beautiful hand-painted
creations spread, he moved the company to Paris Hill, Maine and
expanded operations to form the Paris Hill Manufacturing Company.
Two of these sleds are Paris Hill originals, one is a skilled reproduction.
We can’t tell, can you? photo: Paul Cote and Paris Hill Historical Society
The Differences for Speed and Comfort
Wooden sleds as we know them have not undergone
many serious structural changes, but their development
was marked by a string of eye-catching names like the
“Flying Cloud,” “Thunder” or “Reliance.” Sledding as
an activity was colloquially called “coasting” in the early
days, and depending on your preference, you had the
option for a clipper or a cutter. Clippers were designed
for speed and for diving down hills head-first. They were
long and had low decks mounted directly onto pointed-tipped wood
or metal runners for maximum aerodynamics.
In contrast, a cutter had a shorter deck that rested on a high, open
frame (ideal for sitting down) and traditionally wood runners that Top left: Paint isn’t the only decoration you’ll find on a vintage sled. Swan and gooseneck
rounded or curled elegantly at the front. These were designed for girls or sleds were beloved and quite pretty, as you can see from the iron runner decoration of this
younger children and whereas the clippers were likely to have racing stripes, painted beauty. photo: 1stdibs.com
cutters would be painted with flourishes and floral motifs.
Top right: 1930s-40s Fleet Arrow streamlined sled measuring 54” in length, originally sold
Designed to a “T” by Sears & Roebuck and features dual hand grips for steering. photo: ebth.com
These early sleds, for all of their purposeful design, had no steering
Bottom: Unlike the clippers and cutters of old, the Flexible Flyer was made to accommodate
mechanism. You could drag your feet and damage shoes or grass, or you could seated or stomach riding. This particular sled features a painted red arrow in the motif,
yank hard on the sled and risk flipping over. That all changed through Samuel telling the collector that it was a Racer model. photo: Chairish.com
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
24
Coasting into Childhood on Vintage Wooden Sleds
M ost of us in snowy climates have fond memories of racing downhill Allen’s invention in the late 1880s. Allen was a farm implement manufacturer
on sleds, and these memories are not unique to our generation. and wanted to design a sled based on his own experiences. He had his children
Americans have been searching for worthy hills since before the test out each prototype, including the Aeriel, the Fleetwing, and the Phantom,
American Revolution. Apart from a few notable fashion differences, children but these sleds never made it into production. They held up to eight adults but
racing down the hills of Boston Common back in the 18th century would look were impractical and too pricey.
very similar to children in the same location today. Sleds can provide joy to Allen’s most successful sled drew from those designs but added “T” shaped
wood at the top, extended steel runners and a slatted seat. By pulling a line
adults as well. Apart from an occasional ride, sleds also make notable
collectibles, admired for their strong powers of nostalgia, their exterior art
attached to the T in one direction, a rider could bend the slender steel runners
(if available), the rarity of certain models, and their decorative function. in the desired direction of travel. The “Flexible Flyer” was patented on
February 14th, 1889.
Growing the Brand
Despite being an innovative design, Flyers did not sell as well as their
contemporaries, the Storm King, Swift Glider, Lightning Glider, etc. because
they were all competing for buyers in the same now-unexpected location,
farm implement retail stores. Allen cleverly marketed his Flexible Flyers to
Wanamaker’s and Macy’s toy departments and by 1915 he sold upwards of
2,000 sleds a day and 120,000 sleds in one winter season.
The “Racer” model was the star of the Flexible Flyer line but didn’t have
the same decoration. Allen marked his Racers with a red arrow to symbolize
their speed, aided by their reduced weight. Racers were one third lighter than
standard Flyers. The Tuxedo Racer took the model even further and added
metal runners forward of the supports, a trait that became stander with all
Allen sleds after 1915. Allen also offered an economy sled, called the “FireFly,”
that traded in metal for all-wood side rails and flat runners.
Around 1861, Henry F. Morton had plans to attend college but suffered eyestrain from
studying that made it difficult, so he took up sled building! He built them in his kitchen
to make extra money and his wife painted them. Morton formed the West Sumner
Manufacturing Company and as word of his beautiful hand-painted
creations spread, he moved the company to Paris Hill, Maine and
expanded operations to form the Paris Hill Manufacturing Company.
Two of these sleds are Paris Hill originals, one is a skilled reproduction.
We can’t tell, can you? photo: Paul Cote and Paris Hill Historical Society
The Differences for Speed and Comfort
Wooden sleds as we know them have not undergone
many serious structural changes, but their development
was marked by a string of eye-catching names like the
“Flying Cloud,” “Thunder” or “Reliance.” Sledding as
an activity was colloquially called “coasting” in the early
days, and depending on your preference, you had the
option for a clipper or a cutter. Clippers were designed
for speed and for diving down hills head-first. They were
long and had low decks mounted directly onto pointed-tipped wood
or metal runners for maximum aerodynamics.
In contrast, a cutter had a shorter deck that rested on a high, open
frame (ideal for sitting down) and traditionally wood runners that Top left: Paint isn’t the only decoration you’ll find on a vintage sled. Swan and gooseneck
rounded or curled elegantly at the front. These were designed for girls or sleds were beloved and quite pretty, as you can see from the iron runner decoration of this
younger children and whereas the clippers were likely to have racing stripes, painted beauty. photo: 1stdibs.com
cutters would be painted with flourishes and floral motifs.
Top right: 1930s-40s Fleet Arrow streamlined sled measuring 54” in length, originally sold
Designed to a “T” by Sears & Roebuck and features dual hand grips for steering. photo: ebth.com
These early sleds, for all of their purposeful design, had no steering
Bottom: Unlike the clippers and cutters of old, the Flexible Flyer was made to accommodate
mechanism. You could drag your feet and damage shoes or grass, or you could seated or stomach riding. This particular sled features a painted red arrow in the motif,
yank hard on the sled and risk flipping over. That all changed through Samuel telling the collector that it was a Racer model. photo: Chairish.com
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
24
