Marx Little Wheel at Millers 1972

The people at Marx Toys knew they had a hit on their hands when they came out with the Big Wheel in 1969, so they scaled it down a bit for the younger kids. 

Before you knew it, the Little Wheel was on the market. The Big Wheel was 38" long and the Little Wheel was 30" long and 19" high. 

The Little Wheel was on sale for $7.97 when this ad ran in the Erie Morning News on November 15, 1972, just in time for children to add it to their Christmas wish list. 

Millers Discount Department Stores were located in the Eastway Plaza and at 2330 West 26th Street (near Pittsburgh Avenue) in Erie, PA. James Pettinato was the manager at the West 26th Street store in 1972. 

Marx Toys were made by the Louis Marx Company. They had a plant at 1816 Raspberry Street in Erie.

Enjoy more Erie, PA facts and photos at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Marx Big Wheel at Grant City 1969

Remember the first time you saw one of your friends screaming down the sidewalk on a Big Wheel? Most kids back then didn't know that Marx manufactured Big Wheels in Erie, PA, unless one of their relatives worked at the plant. 

The Big Wheel was billed as the world's first three-wheeled speed cycle. The ad to the left ran in the Erie Morning News on November 3, 1969, just in time for children to add the toy to their Christmas wish lists. The Big Wheel was on sale at Grant City at 12th and Pittsburgh Avenue for only $8.88. Good luck finding one for that price today.

The Big Wheel was "Low-slung for no-tip stability, modified longhorn handlebar for quick, positive turns, on-off engine sound, rear wheel racing slicks for action turns, 38" long; for ages 3 to 10."

I only knew a couple of kids that had Big Wheels, and from what I remember, the front wheel quickly developed a flat spot from jamming on the pedal brake or doing the Tokyo Drift. 

Marx Toys were made by Louis Marx Company. They had a plant at 1816 Raspberry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Enjoy more Erie, PA facts and photos at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Rotival 1958 Study of Industrial Decline in Erie, PA

Rotival 1958 Study for Erie, PA Industrial Decline

Maurice H. Rotival & Associates prepared a Reconnaissance Study for Erie, Pennsylvania in 1958. One of the observations dealt with industrial decline in Erie County following World War II. We learned in a recent article on Old Time Erie (posted June 5, 2012) that there were 550 industries in the Erie region in 1929. The Rotival report tells what happened to some of the industries:

"Jarecki Manufacturing Company, an old family firm, was bought by an out-of-town firm. When they closed down, employees had no pension plan, and suffered hardship. This is an example of former industrial policy which brought about distrust of Erie firms in general. After a family dispute the plant was sold to H. K. Porter for a warehouse for Louis Marx Company toys. The foundry was utilized for Cessna-Erie Corporation castings.

Various causes are assigned for the disappearance of certain manufacturers from the Erie scene:

Conductor Manufacturing Co. (Reed Standard) moved to New York to consolidate their operations.

Griswold Manufacturing closed down in 1957. An old family firm, it began by producing iron kitchen utensils and recently tried converting its products to electric utensils. Its foundry has been taken over by another firm. The rest of its quarters were temporarily occupied by small industries. Its employment was 100-200. There has been little if any loss of jobs.

Its 90-year-old building was sold in September 1958 to Cohen Industrial Supply and Cohen Office Equipment Inc. The plant has 50,000 square feet and will be remodeled for display floors. The Cohen firm, 7 years old, has been occupying rented quarters covering 3,000 square feet.

Pelham Electric Company went bankrupt; recently there has been some attempt to revive the firm.

Talon moved to Meadville where the central plant was. Its plant is occupied by another activity.

Wayne Brewing Company has lost the fight for markets. An electrical contractor is using the premises.

At least two other firms are reported to be in danger of stoppage because their products are no longer in demand." 

Notes:
Jarecki Manufacturing was on West 12th and Weschler
Cohen Industrial Supply Inc. was at 1053 West 12th Street, Erie, PA in 1981.

Tokyo Drift on a Marx Big Wheel. Here's a link to an old Marx commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjTAA_da97w