Description
Flexible Fliers are flexible both in design and usage. Riders may sit upright on the sled or lie on their stomachs, allowing the possibility to descend a snowy slope feet-first or head-first. To steer the sled, riders may either push on the wooden cross piece with their hands or feet, or pull on the rope attached to the wooden cross-piece. Shifting the cross-piece one way or the other causes the flexible rails to bend, turning the sled.
Flexible Flyers work best on hard packed or icy snow. If the snow is soft and deep, the sled’s runners are likely to sink in and prevent the sled from moving.
Samuel Leeds Allen patented the Flexible Flyer in 1889. in Cinnaminson, New Jersey using local children and adults to test prototypes. Allen’s company flourished by selling these speedy and yet controllable sleds at a time when others were still producing toboggans and “gooseneck” sleds.
Allen began producing sleds in his farm equipment factory to keep his workers busy even when it was not the farm season. He developed many prototypes before he created the Flexible Flyer. The sleds did not sell well until he began marketing them to the toy departments of department stores. In 1915, around 120,000 Flexible Fliers were sold, and almost 2,000 Flexible Flyers were sold in one day.
This is a Series D from the early to mid 1920’s. Great condition for it’s age and clear markings on underside of sled SLA & Co.
Product code: 8971
