Remembering a childhood toy

[PhastPhil]

With our family reunion coming up this Saturday, my brothers and I were reminiscing about some of the toys we had as kids. I brought up one particualr toy that we loved but have never seen since. It was a ride on car. It was all metal, cept for the solid rubber tires. The body was tear shaped. The seat was metal, and similar to those on early farm tractors. It was steered using your front feet. It was motivated by pumping the handlebars back and forth. The shaft of the handle bars was connected to a chain and sprocket underneath. You could also make it go backwards by pumping the bars in the opposite direction. But since it was a back and forth motion it was not easy for a little kid to figure out, because they same motion made it go forward and backward. Most kids could not master the steering either because in order to turn right, you had to push your left foot forward. I know that most home made wooden go carts steered the same way. But the kids I knew, never had those.
The body of the toy was painted bright yellow with black pin-striping. The wheels, handlebars and shaft, and the steering platform were all painted black. It was really sharp looking ! It was called the Speedster. My cousin had one that was the same toy, except his was painted a light green on the body, and was called Irish Mel.
In all my travels to antique car shows, including Carlisle and Hershey, and numerous antique shops, and local fairs, I have never seen another toy like it.
I have tried internet searches, and Ebay with no luck. Part of the problem in searching online is that I do not know the proper name of the toy. Typing in Speedster gives thousands of hits, but nothing like the toy. Typing in Irish Mel only brings up CDs of Irish Music song by guys named Mel. :D

Part of my reasoning for posting this here, was not just to share the memory with you all, but also in hopes that someone else has had one of these toys or at least knows what I am referring to.

Thanks for reading.

Please feel free to share your memories of favorite childhood toys. Or should that get it's own thread ?

[guspech750]

chutes away. great game.

girder and panel building sets!!!! my favorite

my intellivision video game system, which i still have and play

[CBT]

Can we list our top 3?
3. Demolition Derby. I have yet to see a complete set on e-bay.
2. Rockem Sockem Robots.
1. I still have it.:cool:

[sd8683]

Me and my big wheel were unbeatable! I always demolished those I raced, it was black and yellow, and it was called black lightning. And then there was ninja turtles action figures!

[Pops]

With our family reunion coming up this Saturday, my brothers and I were reminiscing about some of the toys we had as kids. I brought up one particualr toy that we loved but have never seen since. It was a ride on car. It was all metal, cept for the solid rubber tires. The body was tear shaped. The seat was metal, and similar to those on early farm tractors. It was steered using your front feet. It was motivated by pumping the handlebars back and forth. The shaft of the handle bars was connected to a chain and sprocket underneath. You could also make it go backwards by pumping the bars in the opposite direction. But since it was a back and forth motion it was not easy for a little kid to figure out, because they same motion made it go forward and backward. Most kids could not master the steering either because in order to turn right, you had to push your left foot forward. I know that most home made wooden go carts steered the same way. But the kids I knew, never had those.
The body of the toy was painted bright yellow with black pin-striping. The wheels, handlebars and shaft, and the steering platform were all painted black. It was really sharp looking ! It was called the Speedster. My cousin had one that was the same toy, except his was painted a light green on the body, and was called Irish Mel.
In all my travels to antique car shows, including Carlisle and Hershey, and numerous antique shops, and local fairs, I have never seen another toy like it.
I have tried internet searches, and Ebay with no luck. Part of the problem in searching online is that I do not know the proper name of the toy. Typing in Speedster gives thousands of hits, but nothing like the toy. Typing in Irish Mel only brings up CDs of Irish Music song by guys named Mel. :D

Part of my reasoning for posting this here, was not just to share the memory with you all, but also in hopes that someone else has had one of these toys or at least knows what I am referring to.

Thanks for reading.

Please feel free to share your memories of favorite childhood toys. Or should that get it's own thread ?

I sold two of them last year at an auction. They went for 175.00 and 250.00 each. They were not easy to ride. They do exsist!:)

[Mike Poore]

I had one of 'em. It was called a GO CART and you're right, once mastered, I believe any kid could run one of those could learn to fly a hilocopter. :)

[Hack Goby]

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/l_71c91b0b4fcd45afbca09891619d 5e18.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/16024) This is around 1956 and my rocketship was just that.No pushpull to make it go it was a direct chain drive.Downside was there was no coasting with it so if your foot slipped off it was like a meatgrinder.Ah they just don`t make them like they use to.

[CBT]

Wow! You used to be a handsome little feller, what the heck happened?!
You may have to start a "childhood pic" thread, this was neat. :)



http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/l_71c91b0b4fcd45afbca09891619d 5e18.jpg (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/16024) This is around 1956 and my rocketship was just that.No pushpull to make it go it was a direct chain drive.Downside was there was no coasting with it so if your foot slipped off it was like a meatgrinder.Ah they just don`t make them like they use to.

[Pops]

How much Vodka could you hide in the nose of the ship!:)

[LIGHTNIN1]

I know what you are talking about as I had a similar one myself.I have run across people that restored those old metal cars online when I was hunting something else. I did not keep addresses as that wasn't what I was after. I liked the Erector Set growing up and enjoyed putting together a nuclear power plant kit. Guess that's why they claim I glow in the dark.

[Marauderjack]

Flexy Racer......did A LOT of body surfing down sidewalks....UGH!!!:eek:

http://www.flexy-racer.com/

[Vortex]

With our family reunion coming up this Saturday, my brothers and I were reminiscing about some of the toys we had as kids. I brought up one particualr toy that we loved but have never seen since. It was a ride on car. It was all metal, cept for the solid rubber tires. The body was tear shaped. The seat was metal, and similar to those on early farm tractors. It was steered using your front feet. It was motivated by pumping the handlebars back and forth. The shaft of the handle bars was connected to a chain and sprocket underneath. You could also make it go backwards by pumping the bars in the opposite direction. But since it was a back and forth motion it was not easy for a little kid to figure out, because they same motion made it go forward and backward. Most kids could not master the steering either because in order to turn right, you had to push your left foot forward. I know that most home made wooden go carts steered the same way. But the kids I knew, never had those.
The body of the toy was painted bright yellow with black pin-striping. The wheels, handlebars and shaft, and the steering platform were all painted black. It was really sharp looking ! It was called the Speedster. My cousin had one that was the same toy, except his was painted a light green on the body, and was called Irish Mel.
In all my travels to antique car shows, including Carlisle and Hershey, and numerous antique shops, and local fairs, I have never seen another toy like it.
I have tried internet searches, and Ebay with no luck. Part of the problem in searching online is that I do not know the proper name of the toy. Typing in Speedster gives thousands of hits, but nothing like the toy. Typing in Irish Mel only brings up CDs of Irish Music song by guys named Mel. :D

Part of my reasoning for posting this here, was not just to share the memory with you all, but also in hopes that someone else has had one of these toys or at least knows what I am referring to.

Thanks for reading.

Please feel free to share your memories of favorite childhood toys. Or should that get it's own thread ?


Was that the kind that if you were going down a hill that bar would go back and forth and beat you in the face if you werent careful? I vaguely remember those.

[Vortex]

Got me thinking of another olde "dangerous" toy; we had a red wagon that wasnt square but rounded off at the front and the handle was curved so you could sit inside and steer. Of course, there were no/no brakes at all. I remember me and my brothers getting to the top of the Eames Street in Wahiawa, Oahu and coming down the street we had to have been doing 40 mph! Cars, traffic, did we care? Nah, and no brakes!

[justbob]

Twister....................... .............with the neighbor girl.

[TAKEDOWN]

Spin the bottle with JustBob!

[PhastPhil]

Was that the kind that if you were going down a hill that bar would go back and forth and beat you in the face if you werent careful? I vaguely remember those.

Haha, you are absolutely right !!

I'm glad to see other have had the same or similar toys. We need to see more pictures of you guys on your toys.

[PhastPhil]

Got me thinking of another olde "dangerous" toy; we had a red wagon that wasnt square but rounded off at the front and the handle was curved so you could sit inside and steer. Of course, there were no/no brakes at all. I remember me and my brothers getting to the top of the Eames Street in Wahiawa, Oahu and coming down the street we had to have been doing 40 mph! Cars, traffic, did we care? Nah, and no brakes!

Yep, I had one of those too. Or maybe my friend Mike had it. He and I shared everything we had, and now the old memory doesn't always correctly recall who had what. He says the same thing.

The best part is, Mike and I are still best friends !!