Big Wheel is a brand of low-riding

tricycle A tricycle, sometimes abbreviated to trike, is a Human-powered transport, human-powered (or gasoline or electric motor powered or assisted, or gravity powered) Three-wheeler, three-wheeled vehicle. Some tricycles, such as cycle rickshaws (for pa ...

, made mostly of

plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic polymers, synthetic or Semisynthesis, semisynthetic materials composed primarily of Polymer, polymers. Their defining characteristic, Plasticity (physics), plasticity, allows them to be Injection moulding ...

, with a large front wheel and shallow seat. Introduced by

Louis Marx and Company Louis Marx and Company was an American toy manufacturer in business from 1919 to 1980. They made many types of toys including tin toys, toy soldiers, toy guns, action figures, dolls, toy cars and model trains. Some of their notable toys are Rock ...

in 1969 and manufactured in Girard, Pennsylvania, the Big Wheel was a popular toy in the 1970s in the United States, partly because of its low cost and partly . Its low center of gravity made it a stable tricycle for children to ride, minimizing both tip-overs and the severity of any related falls.

Design

The original Marx Big Wheel tricycle had rotomolded red, blue, yellow, and black plastic parts. The seat sits very low to the ground and is adjusted front and back by aligning a pair of large pegs in its base with a desired set of holes molded into the frame. The large front wheel is approximately 16–18″ in height. In the 1970s, a handbrake was added in front of the right rear wheel to facilitate intentional spin outs. Models included the Champion Cycle with a

coaster brake A bicycle brake reduces the speed of a bicycle or prevents the wheels from moving. The two main types are: rim brakes and disc brakes. Drum brakes are less common on bicycles. Most bicycle brake systems consist of three main components: a mec ...

in the front wheel, the Mini Sweetheart for toddler girls and the black Cobra Cycle, featuring cobra graphics and a "

license plate A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British, Indian and Australian English), license plate (American English) or licence plate (Canadian English), is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for ...

" that could be personalized.

Imitations

The design was quickly imitated, under a variety of brand names. Although "Big Wheel" was a

registered trademark A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a form of intellectual property that consists of a word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination that identifies a product or service from a particular source and distinguishes it from ot ...

, it was frequently used as a generic name for any toy whose design resembled that of Marx. Following the

bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the deb ...

and liquidation of Marx Toys in the early 1980s, the Big Wheel brand name and molds were sold to Empire Plastics, makers of the Power Cycle brand, which was Marx's biggest competitor. By the late 1990s, few manufacturers were making these toys. Empire filed for bankruptcy in 2001. The Big Wheel brand was reintroduced under new ownership in 2003. The Big Wheel was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at

the Strong The Strong is an interactive, collections-based educational institution in Rochester, New York, United States, devoted to the study and exploration of play. It carries out this mission through six programmatic arms called "Play Partners": * Th ...

Rochester, New York Rochester is a city in and the county seat, seat of government of Monroe County, New York, United States. It is the List of municipalities in New York, fourth-most populous city and 10th most-populated municipality in New York, with a populati ...

, in 2009. In 2021, the Big Wheel brand was acquired by Schylling Inc., a company specializing in classic toys and games.

Annual races

Annual races are held for Big Wheel-style tricycles in some locations. One, the "Bring Your Own Big Wheel" race, takes place on Easter Sunday in San Francisco. A Big Wheel race was hosted by the Tulsa Big Wheel Racers LLC as a fundraiser for the Cancer Sucks cancer research center on June 13, 2009.

References

External links

Original Big Wheel
– present manufacturer {{Human-powered vehicles 1970s toys Tricycles Physical activity and dexterity toys

Design

Imitations

Annual races

See also

References

External links