Antonio Pasin
Encyclopedia
Antonio Pasin started making wagons in 1923. He was an Italian immigrant. He started the Radio Flyer company. he was born in 1897 and died in 1990.
His first wagon was called the Radio Flyer after his amazement of the radio and the wonders of flight. He renamed his company the Radio Steel and Manufacturing Company in 1930. His company became the largest producer of toy wagon
s producing 1500 wagons a day despite the Great Depression
. In 1933 the World Fair was coming to Chicago and Antonio has a bold idea. The Company executive say that it is crazy but against their advise and in the middle of the depression he risked major debt but decided to build a 45 foot statue of a boy riding a wagon. Under the wagon there was a shop that sold miniature wagons for 25 cents. After taking the risk, the company captured the country's attention and the modern Radio Flyer was born. Pasin was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame
in 2003.
He died in 1990.
Life
Antonio Pasin was born in Venice, Italy in 1897. Antonio moved to America when he was 16 to begin a new life in New York City in 1913. He had no money and he didn't know anyone. He moved to Chicago with nothing but a name and a dream. He may have had other odd jobs. He invested his savings and bought used woodworking tools and rented a one room workshop. He created his first wagon there in 1917 and named it the Liberty Coaster after being inspired by the Statue of Liberty. He then opened a small factory west of Chicago in a daring investment. It paid off when he receive an order for 7000 wagons and suddenly his company took off. In 1927 Antonio wanted to make a wagon affordable for every child, especially because he never had one growing up with very little money. He did that by adopting steel stamping mass production techniques inspired by the automobile industry, earning him the nickname "Little Ford".His first wagon was called the Radio Flyer after his amazement of the radio and the wonders of flight. He renamed his company the Radio Steel and Manufacturing Company in 1930. His company became the largest producer of toy wagon
Toy wagon
A toy wagon has the same structure as the traditional, larger wagon, but is much smaller and has an open top. An average wagon is able to seat one child, and is generally propelled by human power through a handle at the front. Some famous brands are Radio Flyer, Red Rider, Northern Tool and...
s producing 1500 wagons a day despite the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. In 1933 the World Fair was coming to Chicago and Antonio has a bold idea. The Company executive say that it is crazy but against their advise and in the middle of the depression he risked major debt but decided to build a 45 foot statue of a boy riding a wagon. Under the wagon there was a shop that sold miniature wagons for 25 cents. After taking the risk, the company captured the country's attention and the modern Radio Flyer was born. Pasin was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame
Toy Industry Hall of Fame
The Toy Industry Hall of Fame recognizes the contributions of toy-makers around the world. It is maintained by the Toy Industry Foundation, an arm of the Toy Industry Association.-External links: at the Toy Industry Association...
in 2003.
He died in 1990.