BLACK AND WHITE gallery

A collection of black and white images showcasing vintage pedal cars from the early 1900’s to the mid 1960’s, many from my own catalogue and on display for the first time. Most of the pedal cars displayed here from the 1920’s & 30’s had very low production numbers and are extremely rare and valuable if still around today.

These old photographs often depict elements not typical or known about particular types of cars. So its always interesting when an original photo is able to unearth a design element making a particular car unique to its model.

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BLACK AND WHITE

Lines bro 1938 tourer

lines bro - tri-ang

The Brothers George Lines and Joseph Lines made wooden toys in the Victorian era, their company being G & J Lines Ltd. George was a trained carpenter, while Joseph was more business focused. Joseph had four sons, three of whom formed Lines Bros Ltd soon after the First World War. They were William, Walter and Arthur Lines. At its peak in 1947, was claimed by the company to be the largest toy maker in the world. Later becaming known as Tri-ang Toys, being short for Triangle, the shape which consisted of 3 Lines just as the company. Then this very well known UK brand in 1969 acquired the Cyclops Brand, Australia’s largest toy company and rebranded many similar pedal cars both Tri-ang and Cyclops over this two decade period, prior to Melbourne based toy manufacturer Hunter’s Toyline buying the Cyclops brand back in 1990.

thanks

Personal Collection

black and white

cyclops 1932 boat tail

musical production

This early Cyclops Boat Tail pedal car very rarely turns up amongst collections as its low production numbers and early build date make it extremely scarce nowadays. Even early publications depicting the model are limited, so to see this photograph with this car in particular on full display in a school musical number is a sight indeed.

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Internet

black and white

1924 cyclops plane

it exists

Thought by many not to ever have proceeded into production the Cyclops 1924 plane has basically never been seen, only to exist through illustration in early brochures. This incredibly rare photograph not only proves its very existence, but depicts two of them side by side. The only other photo known to disprove this theory is on the ‘HOME’ page of this site capturing the 1924 plane on display front and center during a Cyclops toy exhibition. Both these original photographs are from my own personal black and white collection. A little secret I just have to tell, through my travels and the many collectors I know and collections I have seen. I have laid eyes on the only known 1924 Cyclops plane to still be in existence today and it is a fantastic original example. Don’t ask, I’ll never tell…

thanks

Personal Collection