Posted 11 years ago
JUDDANTIQU…
(52 items)
I picked this up yesterday at a yardsale the badge says Colson made in Ohio. From what I can tell its very origanl excecpt grips and info on year would be great, my grandaughter loves it!!
1930s-40s Colson Tricycle | ||
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Hi,
What you have is a Colson Deluxe model number X-460 from 1950. I have a B&W copy of the catalog which gives the color scheme for that year. Even though not in color, the image shows the exact paint scheme as on your model. I have a 1950 Colson Imperial model which has the same style recessed rear step plate with rubber pad. Hope this info helps. You made a terrific purchase...your granddaughter has a well made tricycle that she could easily pass on to her little boy or girl years from now.
Thanks for the info ridingtoy Im sure your more educated than me on these bikes but the 1950 models Ive seen were painted and everything else like the 1950 madels but did not have the springer type front forks but are on the earlier models.Was this a option on those bikes?
Hi,
The springers you mention are just truss rods to give the tricycle a big bike look but don't really function as they would on a bicycle. On bicycles, the truss rods reinforce the front fork to help keep it from bending under heavier loads. The weight of an average tricycle rider isn't enough to over stress the fork, making the truss rods more decorative than functional. Truss rods were used on certain makes of tricycles up until the early 1960s at least. Evans, which took over Colson in 1953 was still putting them on their Evans models of trikes until the early 1960s. Midwest/MTD also used truss rods on their later 1950s tricycles. I believe Murray did too. The 1950 Colson I have also has them. So the rods alone really are not a true indication of the tricycle's age, you have to consider the whole design of the tricycle including the type of tires used and the painted finish which changed from year to year. As I mentioned, yours matches the 1950 catalog right down to the colors used and the pattern in which they are applied, the tan vinyl seat, and the chrome plated truss rods.
I've been collecting and studying designs of tricycles since the late 1980s. I also buy old photos on ebay where I can make out the head badge name, and save copies of color photos from ebay for personal reference to help identify the make/model/year of older tricycles from the 1960s on back I come across. I wouldn't steer you wrong on your tricycle if I wasn't sure the info presented here wasn't fairly accurate.
Just wanted to add, unfortunately I don't have a 1949 or 1951 Colson catalog to consult. There is a possibility they could have kept the exact design for more than one year, but usually after a couple years there were changes made in the painted finish, if nothing else. That being said, there is a slight possibility this one could be as early as 1949 making it truly a '40s tricycle, or could go the other way and be a 1951. Shame tricycles don't carry serial numbers like bicycles, which would identify the year made.
Thanks really glad you have that info I would love for it to be older but the lady I bought it from said 1950 and my grandaughter could care less what year she rides the heck outa it! Its gonna be here for two more grandsons to ride when they get big enuff .