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For Contact Information:
CONTACT
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Website
design by:
Jenifer Holcombe
Soykan |
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| Victor Bird is a sled enthusiast who is the
contributor to this page, which he calls his descent. Sleds and comments
are his and much appreciated. Vic can be reached by email. |
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FF Racer In performance,
the Racer was the top of the Flexible Flyer line. S L Allen & Co
introduced the Racer in 1908 when it introduced the patented grooved
runner and "goose neck" bend at the runner’s front tip. The
Racer remained a sleek alternative to standard sleds through decades of
Flexible Flyer production. My all-wood Racer is a well-weathered example
of the initial Racer design of 1908-1914. This old Racer, now devoid of
its original graphics, is tempting me to start a full restoration.
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FF Racer Racer Racers did not sport fancy scrollwork,
as did the standard models. Instead, they bore the swift red arrow that
was to adorn all Flexible Flyers by the end of the 1930s. The Racer
weighed less than two-thirds of an equivalently sized standard model, but
it had inches more runner forward of the supports giving it superior
steering. My 57-inch D Series Racer is about as fine a mid-1920s original
as one is likely to find. New, it cost $6.50. The earlier Racers had two
siblings -- the smaller Junior Racer and the slightly longer Tuxedo Racer.
The Tuxedo Racer started as a competition-specific sled that Allen
designed for the New York State Tuxedo Club. S L Allen & Co offered it
for sale to the general public for only a limited number of years. The
Tuxedo Racer was the first Flexible Flyer to use the high-performing,
metal front end that was later added to the full line of Flexible Flyers
in 1915.
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FF Fire Fly
Technically not a Flexible Flyer, the Fire Fly coaster was S. L. Allen’s economically-priced line of sleds. A Racer joined the Fire Fly line in 1917. With its all-wood side rails, old-style steering mechanism, and flat runners, the Fire Fly Racer pictured here was no match for even a standard Flexible Flyer let alone a Flexible Flyer Racer, but it did represent a well-constructed and reasonably priced alternative to other sleds of the day. My Fire Fly Racer with its old-style holly branch deck art may date from among the earliest examples. But the absence of design changes in the Fire Fly line (for example, Fire Fly sleds had wooden side rails until 1935) present a real dating challenge, not to mention an anachronistic
appearance.
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FF 41J S. L. Allen
produced these beauties until 1968 when the company was sold and moved to
Ohio. The 41 referenced the length of the sled. Partially
refurbished with newly painted runners, fresh urethane, and a reproduction
logo. Abbie, my
three-year-old rides this J series from the 1960s. It is six inches
smaller than her sister’s sled. It has original graphics, freshly
painted runners, and a couple of coats of new urethane. Abbie is still
working on her steering skills so we like to point her down an
obstacle-free swath of slope. Papa (that’s me) rides a big 60J Flexible
Flyer, which is the one I recommend for adults who want to keep most of
their body parts up off the snow while demonstrating belly-whompers.
S.L. Allen Co. produced these chrome bumper beauties – the H and J
series – from 1955 until 1968. That is when Flexible Flyer
was sold and moved to Ohio. I like to look for these high quality
Flyers at second hand stores and on eBay.
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Chrome Bumper
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FF Airline Patrol 44 Here is
an older Airline Patrol. The Airline series with safety runners debuted in
1935. Models sporting the name on the deck continued through 1949. This
one is 100% original and has not been refurbished.
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FF 47J S. L.
Allen produced this beauty until 1968 when the company was sold and
moved to Ohio. The earlier Airline name for the sled was Airline
Pursuit.
Here you see the "Meghan Flyer," my
six-year-olds 47J from the 1960s. It is partially refurbished with fresh
urethane, newly painted runners, Meghan’s name on the steering bar, and
a fresh logo. Meghan greatly improved her steering abilities this
winter but still prefers to ride seated. We’ll work on the belly-whomper-start
next year.
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FF Yankee Clipper Manufactured
by Flexible Flyer as a less expensive sled.
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Blue Streak Racer The
Auto Wheel Coaster Company manufactured this 1950s Blue Streak Racer. Like
its better known sibling, the Fleetwing Racer, the Blue Steak is made from
selected white ash, same as a Flexible Flyer. These sleds sport grooved
runners but lack Flexible Flyer’s patented features like Super Steering.
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Sears/Flying Arrow
The sledding market that S L Allen
& Co created with Flexible Flyer also created a host of competitors
and imitators. Sears added the Flying Arrow to its catalog around 1927.
Priced at $2.69, it cost one-third the Flexible Flyer. My
Flying Arrow, possibly a product of the Kalamazoo Sled Co, is a good
example of the well-built yet still inferior competitors of the Flexible
Flyer. Note that the Flying Arrow still had all-wood side rails in 1927
while Flexible Flyer had adopted a metal front end in 1915. The Flying
Arrow also has flat, not grooved, runners. The Sears catalog says,
"The steering arrangement is very flexible, easy to work and
mechanically perfect." It should be; it is a copy of the Flexible
Flyer. But in 1928, Flexible Flyer introduced patented Super
Steering and left the competition even further behind.
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