Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 11

Fantastic American Locomotive Pedal Vehicle

$12,500List Price

About the Item

FANTASTIC AMERICAN LOCOMOTIVE PEDAL VEHICLE, WITH GREAT FOLK QUALITIES, MADE IN THE FORM OF THE FAMOUS NEW YORK EMPIRE EXPRESS, CA 1920:

The Empire State Express was a world famous locomotive and the 1890's flagship of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad (a predecessor of the modern New York Central Railroad). It became the world's first high-speed passenger train on September 14, 1891, when it covered the 436 miles between New York City and Buffalo in just 7 hours and 6 minutes, including stops. The train averaged 61.4 miles-per-hour, a new world speed record in rail travel, with an officially recorded top speed of 82 mph. Some observers claimed to have clocked the train at 112 mph (Source: Wikipedia).

This model of the train, in the form of a pedal vehicle, was made under the brand name "Pioneer" by the Gendron Wheel Company in Toledo, Ohio. By some accounts, Gendron wasn't producing pedal cars until the 1920's, but those who have done more extensive research on French Canadian owner Pierre Gendron and his companies, this doesn't appear to be accurate. Gendron moved from Canada to Detroit following the Civil War and, in the late 1870's, produced the first lightweight wire wheels. Their primary application was velocipedes and baby carriages. The company went under, but was reformed in the 1890's and soon began producing all manner of bicycles and children's vehicles. This pedal locomotive appears to have been a predecessor to the pedal car that followed. Given the prominent status of the train in the 1890's, and the style of the wheels, plus the tinwork and the overall construction--which looks very much to be of 1890-1910 vintage--it seems likely that this was one of Gendron's first ventures into what would become a pedal car empire. It seems unlikely that Gendron would have sought to make an old style locomotive in the 1920's, 30's, or 40's, when more modern trains would have been all the rage. Further, the vehicle doesn't look like Gendron's later work.

The form of the locomotive, with its cow-catcher, lovely wheel and pedal mechanisms, and detailed chassis, could scarcely be in a more desirable state. With untouched, dry paint surface and just enough wear to make an endearing display of its age, it is every bit as fine an example of early American folk art as it is a toy. Crossing categories like this lends a much wider appeal among serious collectors.

Condition: Some sort of hood ornament or lamp was at one time present at the front of the cylinder. Our research has so-far failed to establish precisely what this was. There are various losses, none of which will deter a folk art enthusiast. The most significant of these is metal deterioration on the left side of the left front window and paint loss along the wooden portion of the right side of the chassis.

Note: Refer to this article for a nice history of Pierre Gendron's companies: http://www.pedalcarnews.com/peter_gendron.htm

Dimensions:
Height: 30 in (76.2 cm)Width: 54 in (137.16 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Early 20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1920
Condition:
See Item Description.
Seller Location:
York County, PA
Reference Number:
Seller: fcs-1641stDibs: U1112168497513

A Folk Art model of a toy depicting a steam train, USA 1900.

$2,120

H 15.75 in W 44.5 in D 8.75 in

A Folk Art model of a toy depicting a steam train, USA 1900.

Located in Milan, IT

A toy model of Folk art, steam train, consisting of two elements, the locomotive and a coal wagon. Made of oak wood with metal details. the chimney, like the round elements that run ...

Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Metal, Brass

American Country Wooden Train Coach Model

$21,000

H 25.5 in W 40.5 in D 16 in

American Country Wooden Train Coach Model

Located in Queens, NY

American Country style (20th Cent) painted wood model of DeWitt Clinton train coach with doll figures (see #037074-companion piece, Stephenson's R...

Category

20th Century American Country Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century Model of an Electric Powered Road Vehicle

$3,968Sale Price|20% Off

H 7 in W 13.25 in D 6.5 in

Late 19th Century Model of an Electric Powered Road Vehicle

Located in London, GB

A late 19th century brass model of an electric powered road locomotive. 4 inch rear wheels with gear drive from electric motor, front 4 inch wheels w...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Models and Miniatures

Materials

Brass

American Country Copper Steam Engine Wall Plaque

$2,200

H 26 in W 25.25 in

American Country Copper Steam Engine Wall Plaque

Located in Queens, NY

American Country style (20th Century) copper steam engine wall plaque with 3 wheels.

Category

20th Century American Country Decorative Art

Materials

Copper

Large Vintage Toy Horse and Cart, Circa 1950

$3,600

H 22.5 in W 45 in D 16 in

Large Vintage Toy Horse and Cart

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Impressive hand crafted toy horse and cart with a realistic cowhide cover horse with authentic tack on a wood platform with wheels. The hand painted cart has wooden wheels with metal...

Category

20th Century Folk Art Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Large Vintage Toy Horse and Cart

$3,600

H 22.5 in W 45 in D 16 in

Large Vintage Toy Horse and Cart

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Impressive hand crafted toy horse and cart with a realistic cowhide cover horse with authentic tack on a wood platform with wheels. The hand painted c...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Sporting Art Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Metal

Folk Art Steamship of Large-Scale

$1,400

H 17 in W 12.5 in D 47 in

Folk Art Steamship of Large-Scale

Located in Buchanan, MI

Charming Folk Art steamship of impressive scale.

Category

Early 20th Century American Folk Art Models and Miniatures

Materials

Wood

American Country Coppe Engine Wall Plaque

$1,200

H 26 in W 32 in

American Country Coppe Engine Wall Plaque

Located in Queens, NY

American Country style (20th Century) copper wall plaque of 2 wheel steam engine.

Category

20th Century American Rustic Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Copper

American Folk Art Mechanical Cowboy Decoration

$1,200

H 23 in W 9 in D 4.25 in

American Folk Art Mechanical Cowboy Decoration

Located in Queens, NY

American Country (19/20th Cent) Folk Art toy of a painted and decorated metal cowboy on a horse with moving parts mounted on an balance beam.

Category

Antique 19th Century American Country Games

Materials

Metal

EARLY 20TH-CENTURY TOY CAR

$2,260

H 29.53 in W 40.95 in D 22.25 in

EARLY 20TH-CENTURY TOY CAR

Located in Firenze, FI

A refined and unique toy car made of wrought iron, with a wooden frame painted in tempera in shades of blue and green. The car is in good condition and fully f...

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Toys

Materials

Wrought Iron

More From This Seller

View All

Tremendous Child's Wheelbarrow from Maine

Located in York County, PA

A TREMENDOUS CHILD'S WHEELBARROW FROM MAINE, CA 1840-1870: Ex scudder smith. Great iron work and excellent paint-decorated surface.

Category

20th Century American Children's Furniture

Materials

Wood

Homemade, Antique American Flag with Exceptional Folk Qualities, 1896-1908

Located in York County, PA

HOMEMADE, ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH A TINY CANTON RESTING ON THE 6TH STRIPE AND AN EXTREMELY FOLKY PRESENTATION OF 45 STARS IN A “NOTCHED” PATTERN THAT MIGHT BE UNIQUE TO THIS EXAMP...

Category

Antique 1890s American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Cotton

Elaborate Sailor Souvenir of Washington Crossing the Delaware, circa 1885-1912

Located in York County, PA

Elaborate sailor’s souvenir embroidery from the orient with a beautiful hand-painted image of Washington crossing the Delaware, surrounded by a large eagle, federal shield, crossed flags, a cannon, cannonballs, and anchor, circa 1885-1910: Between roughly 1880 and 1915, American sailors visiting the orient could obtain beautiful needlework embroideries on shore, with patriotic American themes. These extraordinary works of art were acquired as mementos of a long voyage, often with the hope that they might be presented as gifts for loved ones and friends. Using silk floss, elaborately embellished with both silver and gold metallic bullion thread...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Asian Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

Rare Pair of Fireman's Axe Parade Torches

Located in York County, PA

Rare pair of fireman’s axe parade torches, 1860-1880: Pair of fireman’s axe parade torches with traditional wooden axe handles and the heads made o...

Category

20th Century American Folk Art Sculptures

38 Star Antique American Flag, Colorado Statehood, circa 1876-1889

Located in York County, PA

38 star antique American parade flag with scattered star orientation, made of silk, with generous scale and vivid colors, Colorado Statehood, 1876-1889 38 star American national p...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Political and Patriotic Memorabilia

Materials

Silk

48 Stars Canted to the Right, and Dancing Stars to the Left, ca 1912-1918

Located in York County, PA

48 STARS CANTED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT IN DANCING ROWS, A RARE VARIETY OF ANTIQUE AMERICAN PARADE FLAG IN A LARGE SCALE, 1912-1918 OR PERHAPS EARLIER, REFLECTS ARIZONA & NEW MEXICO ST...

Category