When Kids Embraced Pedal Power

Pedal cars emerged in the mid-1880s when Karl Benz patented his three-wheeled Motorwagen in January of 1886 and unveiled it to the public in July of that year. By the early 1890s, the wealthiest families had purchased their children the first factory-produced pedal cars that mimicked the very real cars rambling along the world’s roadways. […]

Pedal Cars

When motor-driven automobiles appeared, toy manufacturers added pedal cars to their product lines. Pedal cars were copies of real cars, with side doors, nickel-plated lamps and trim, imitation toolboxes, and rubber tires. One or two children could sit in the car and move it by pushing the foot pedals. Pedal cars from the early 1900s […]