Next up, The Big Wheel by Marx.
This was first introduced in 1969 and was very popular in the 1970's. Essentially a plastic tricycle, it was made popular because of it's cost [relatively inexpensive] and it's safety. In the 70's consumer safety groups said that it was safer than traditional tricycles.
One problem with the big wheels were, because they were made of plastic, the rear tires could wear through after much use and much breaking.
Here are a couple of vintage 1970's commercials for the Big Wheel
This older version did not have a break mechanism
This 1975 commericial shows the improved Big Wheel with a brake
In recent times Lexus with it's "December to Remember" advertising campaign featured the Big Wheel in one of it's commercials. It is very clever and one of my favorites.
The director of this add got the 1970's down to a "T". I love the mom in this commercial snapping and instamatic picture from a polaroid camera. It is classic !
By the time Big Wheels were popular I was much too old to have one, but saw many in my neighborhood.
Marx toy company went out of buisness in the early 1980s. The rights to the Big Wheel passed through a few toy companies, with "The Original Big Wheel" manufacturing company owning the rights to the Big Wheel today.
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