remember the Flexible Flyer sled?

[ensho]

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=eng

Area: USA, State of Pennsylvania, 7673 Germantown Ave, , Philadelphia



Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the four-alarm fire that burned through the former Flexible Flyer sled factory in North Philadelphia last night. Dozens of firefighters battled the spectacular blaze in the six-story building, now a warehouse, at Fifth and Ontario Streets for nearly an hour-and-a-half before bringing it under control. No injuries were reported but residents in nearby homes were briefly evancuated. Fire officials said the blaze was reported at 10:06 p.m. and quickly climbed to four-alarms. The plant borders the Amtrak and SEPTA regional rail line to Trenton and New York, making battling the fire even harder. Fire officials declared the blaze under control around 11:35 p.m. The Flexible Flyer sled was invented in 1889 by Samuel Leeds Allen, a manufacturer of farm equipment. A Philadelphia native, Allen built a mansion that still overlooks a sledding hill on Moorestown's Main Street.
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I had a Flexible Flyer as a kid

[BlooInBloo]

1. I had one!

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. my brother had one

it was really cool!

[DeepBlueC]

2. Me too!

Great sled!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. I still have one but my kids preferred the plastic sleds to go down the hill with.

[BuyingThyme]

5. My parents pulled my sister and I along frozen streets on Flexible Flyers.

I wish we still had 'em.

[BobRossi]

6. Made in China now.

Like everything else. Pathetic.

[earthboundmisfit]

7. Wow must've been the original building from late 19th century -

Moved production to Medina, Ohio in 1970
Moved production to China in 1998, ended production in 1999 :(

From http://www.needak.com/ff100y.pdf


1881 S. L. Allen Co. of Philadelphia is a leading manufacturer of farm equipment, marketing products
throughout the U.S. and Europe.
1884-1887 Samuel Allen realizes need to diversify product line and prevent seasonal layoffs of work force:
Experiments with various types of sleds: “Phantom”, “Fleetwing” and “Aerial” which are never
marketed. All sleds tested at Westtown School in Moorstown, N.J. and Ivystone farm.
1888 Allen unsuccessfully markets predecessor to “Flexible Flyer” called the “Fairy Coaster”.
Feb. 14, 1889 Application for patent for “Flexible Flyer” filed by Samuel Leeds Allen.
August, 1889 Patent granted for Flexible Flyer and production begins—sled meets with resistance from toy buyers.
Early 1900’s S. L. Allen Co. actively markets the “Flexible Flyer” sled; Wanamaker’s in Philadelphia and R. H.
Macy Co. stock sleds for Christmas.
1889-1968 S. L. Allen Co. continues to manufacture sleds for worldwide distribution.
1968 The Leisure Group, Los Angeles, buys S. L. Allen Co. of Philadelphia.
1969 The Leisure Group buys Blazon, Inc. manufacturers of outdoor play equipment in West Point,
Mississippi.
1970 Flexible Flyer plant moved to Medina, Ohio
1973 Private investors buy The Leisure Group’s toy division and consolidate operations under the name of
Blazon-Flexible Flyer, Inc. at West Point, Mississippi.
1989 Flexible Flyer celebrates 100th Anniversary. Flexible Flyer introduces Centennial model sled.
1990-1999 Flexible Flyer continues the great tradition of quality products and services that began in 1889
1993 Purchased by ROADMASTER CORP, sled production move to Olney, Illinois
1996 Divested Flexible Flyer Toys, retained all snow toys
1998 Moved production to China
1999 Ended production

more at link

[Occam Bandage]

8. I'm pretty sure I've still got one in storage somewhere. nt

[county worker]

9. I had one and hit a tree head on with the front. It bent the center frame into a V shape and it was

even more flexible than before! I could turn on a dime after that!

[ensho]

10. lol

nt

[NEOhiodemocrat]

11. I have three in the barn

waiting for the grandkids so they will be in use again! If it keeps snowing today maybe I will have to take one out for a ride.

[LibertyLover]

12. I still have my Flexible Flyer sled

and during the winter if it snows enough, we hitch our Siberian Husky to it and give our daughter and neighborhood kids rides.

[endarkenment]

13. I broke my wrist at the age of 4 on one! nt.

[MiniMe]

14. I think I still have one in my parent's basement